The Cabinet will, at its next meeting, be asked to approve the tabling of the National Policy for Culture, Entertainment and the Creative Economy as a green paper in the Houses of Parliament.

Culture Minister, Olivia Grange, says the policy outlines the framework within which the Government of Jamaica will enhance, safeguard, protect and promote the cultural heritage, creative expressions and innovations of the Jamaican people.

“The policy provides approaches for creating an enabling environment for the creative economy to thrive and significantly contribute to the economic wellbeing of Jamaicans and the national economy,” said Grange. She was speaking recently in the House of Representatives, during her contribution to the Sectoral Debate.

She disclosed that an institute dedicated to creatives will be established on the grounds of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMU).

Said Grange, “The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has been determined to invest in new opportunities to enable our young creatives to rise to the levels of cultural and artistic knowledge and prowess worthy of our global reach. To enable this, I announce today that my Ministry has forged cooperation with the Caribbean Maritime University for the establishment of the Culture, Entertainment and Creative Practitioners Institute at the CMU”.

Minister Grange said the institute will open in September of this year with a target of 500 students. “Our vision is to establish a premier institute that fosters innovation, growth, and professional development in Jamaica’s cultural and creative industries, empowering individuals to thrive in a globally competitive environment. It will be a hub for training, collaboration and capacity-building in the cultural and creative industries, driving economic growth, cultural preservation and global competitiveness,” Grange outlined.

She said courses will be tailored to enable young creative practitioners to hone their craft while leveraging their knowledge and talent in the full spectrum of the creative economy. “This Institute will enable development of the artist, in whatever field of creative endeavor. Our plan is to focus on such dynamic creative areas as: Innovation and Technology Integration, Cultural Identity and Preservation, Education and Certification, Collaboration and Partnerships, Sustainability and Institutionalisation”.

Courses are projected to include: Music Production, Audio Engineering and Sound Design, Music Business and Distribution, Reggae and Dancehall Production Techniques, Graphic Design and Branding, Design for Digital Platforms, Animation and Motion Graphics, Fashion Design and Textile Arts, Cinematography and Film Production, Photography and Visual Storytelling, AI and Digital Tools for Creatives.

“The institute will feature the full gamut of the eco-system of the cultural and creative industries,” Grange said, noting that it has evolved from an activity that was created by her Ministry over the past five years – the Jamaica Creative Career Expo.