As part of the Discover Downtown initiative, the free Artwalk Festival now offers a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour with stops to the Tivoli Gardens Mural Project, a new art park in Parade Gardens and exhibitions at the National Gallery of Jamaica.

The Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour which is available for booking online via the Kulcha Connect app, brings exposure and income to partnering communities.

Executive director of Kingston Creative Andrea Dempster Chung, said: “The Hop On Hop Off Bus is a new experience that has been added to the Art Walk Festival… We want to continue giving visitors more reasons to take tours and Discover Downtown by exploring authentic community spaces like Tivoli, Parade Gardens, Rae Town and Trench Town. These are communities that have rich historical significance and we hope that people will not only be in awe of the artworks, but also be open to hearing the stories of the communities and see why it is so important to preserve our rich Jamaican cultural heritage. We have more Hop On Hop Off tours lined up for our upcoming festivals on the last Sunday of every month, and we invite everyone to come out and bring family and friends to learn more about the gems that downtown Kingston has to offer.”

Following the tragic incident in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, community members have embraced restoration in creative ways. Tivoli Mural Project founders, O’Neil Coke and Micah Tafari, shared profound insights into the community’s history and the story behind each mural painting.

“Our project extends beyond the concept of art; it seeks to welcome different people to view the space differently. With the tragedies and trauma that have affected our community, we wanted to start a project that promotes unity and provides healing through art, which we hope will restore peace in the community,” shared Micah Tafari.

Micah Tafari and O’Neil Coke expressed gratitude to the Kingston Creative team for giving patrons the opportunity to experience the murals and learn about the community’s rich history.

“This is my first time participating in a project as big as this. When I heard the message behind the project I knew it was something I wanted to dedicate my time to. I wanted people to understand that regardless of where you are from and how difficult the journey may be, you are capable of achieving everything you strive for in life, even if you cannot see the end of the road,” stated an artist in the Tivoli Murals Project, Carol Chung.

Reflecting the sentiments of her fellow artists, Chung, affectionately known as Syckasso, described her mural featuring well-known landmarks in downtown Kingston, such as the Digicel building, ROK Hotel, and the waterfront. She aims for her artwork to be easily recognisable and relatable. To symbolise the importance of exploring beyond one’s immediate surroundings, she included depictions of places she wishes to visit, such as Brazil, France, and Egypt. Additionally, she incorporated motivational words on the buildings to remind viewers of the ongoing journey of progress, emphasising that we are not meant to stay in one place forever.

The recent Artwalk Festival was themed around Visual Arts and featured over 40 artisans on Church Street with paintings, live drawings, pottery painting workshops by the Trench Town Art and Ceramics Centre, jewellery, and other handmade products. Attendees participated in domino tournaments and free paint-and-sip sessions.

Closing out the art walk with high-energy musical performances were headliners Jay Edge and Ecina emerging from the organisation’s new partnership with Super Heavy.

July’s Festival is themed around fashion and, for the third year running, will feature a showcase by top fashion designers and Saint International models, curated by Deiwght Peters.

Social worker Ruth Jankee (left), project leader of the Tivoli Gardens Mural Project Micah Tafari, and director of Rastafari Indigenous Village Arlene McKenzie share the vibes at the art walk.

Artist Akeem Pinnock shares the empowering story behind his vibrant artwork Harmony during the guided tour on Sunday, June 30, 2024.