Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has extended the deadline for its Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Competitions until Monday, January 22, 2024.

Now in its 60th year and widely recognised as the Caribbean region’s leading national institute for cultural development, the JCDC has again been combing the length and breadth of Jamaica in search of talented Jamaicans in the creative industry.

This competition accepts entries from individuals, schools, community groups, and studio groups under several disciplines. The areas include dance, deaf dance, drama and theatre, traditional folk forms, music, drums, speech, culinary arts, and literary arts/creative writing

Director of the JCDC’s Arts Development & Training Division Andrew Brodber sought to encourage new talent to make submissions.

“Submitting an entry does not mean that the final product, whether it be a dance, or song, or poem, has to be ready by the deadline for submission. It means that those wishing to participate can submit the names and titles of presentations they will be performing on the day of the parish audition. Every year, some teachers hesitate to enter because they believe that the final product must be fully ready when they enter, but that is not so, they can submit the entry for the piece even as they continue their preparations,” Brodber said.

He also urged prospects not to wait until the last minute to enrol.

JCDC Executive Director Lenford Salmon, for his part, added: “As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we do so with humility and a sense that we must continuously review and recreate ourselves so that we remain relevant, but still cognisant of the need to maintain our authenticity.”