Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is registering success with the number of entries received for this year’s National Festival of the Performing Arts.

This year’s figures for entries represent an achievement of the 30 per cent increase in submissions targeted by the JCDC. Last year, the commission received just over 8,000 submissions for the 2024 cycle.

At the closing date for submission on Friday, January 10, the commission was in receipt of in excess of 10,000 entries. These entries span the areas of speech, music, dance, drama, traditional folk forms, and deaf dance for participation in the National Festival of the Performing Arts which takes place across the island from January to April of this year. This will involve approximately 30,000 performers.

While expressing delight at the increase in numbers, the JCDC has attributed the renewed interest in the Festival of the Performing Arts to a number of factors and initiatives instituted over the past year in a bid to rebuild following a dip due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Top of the list of initiatives is the introduction of the online application platform, JCDC Awards Force, which creates a seamless automated process from the submission of entries to the adjudication process.

What’s more, performers were given an additional four weeks with the deadline being extended from December 13, 2024, to January 10, 2025.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange added that the impact of the human element in this achievement cannot be underestimated. She lauded the work of all concerned in rebuilding the rich history, legacy, and importance of the performing arts programme at the JCDC.

“This is really amazing. We have to big up our team in the JCDC parish offices islandwide. It is their work at the grass root level that has resulted in some of what we are experiencing. This year saw the return of the face-to-face workshops — the first time since the pandemic. This brought out participants into contact with experts in the respective fields. The allowed for trouble spots to be identified and tackled at source. This tactile experience has worked wonders for the confidence of performers and their technical competence,” she said.

Grange added: “This increase in submissions truly sets the stage for what promises to be a great year for the National Festival of the Performing Arts… This is a real indication that the JCDC’s mandate of unearthing, developing, preserving, and showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage is alive and well.”

Live auditions will begin in the parishes on January 20, then selected entries will move on to parish finals and the national finals later in the year.