Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) has collaborated with Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) to launch JaRIA JaMz.

The programme is a vibrant, monthly cultural showcase and networking platform designed to connect Jamaica’s creative talent with limitless business opportunities.

The first staging takes place on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 on the EMCVPA campus, continuing every fourth Thursday thereafter.

It aims to present an eclectic fusion of creative expression — from reggae performances, spoken word, and poetry to short films, visual arts, culinary arts, and more — reflecting the depth and diversity of Jamaica’s cultural landscape.

EMCVPA Interim Principal Dorrett R Campbell underscored the importance of this initiative not only for Jamaica’s premier institution for training and nurturing artistic talent, but for the nation’s cultural and economic future.

She noted that the partnership affirmed what EMCVPA has always championed: “The arts are not peripheral to Jamaica’s development, but central to it.” JaRIA JaMz, she added, “aligns with the college’s mission to produce graduates who are not only masters of their craft, but also innovators, entrepreneurs, and cultural ambassadors”.

“We bring to this partnership decades of expertise in training and shaping Jamaica’s artistic vanguard, while JaRIA brings its extensive industry network and market insight. Together, we are creating a platform where creativity meets commerce, where talent meets opportunity, and where our students, alumni, and the wider creative sector can actively participate in shaping Jamaica’s cultural economy. This is nation-building through the arts,” Campbell asserted.

Chairman of JaRIA Ewan D A Simpson welcomed the collaboration, noting that the “partnership between the Edna Manley College and JaRIA represents the kind of synergy that is missing in Jamaica’s culture and creative industries”.

He encouraged corporate Jamaica to come on board with all creatives and “to seize the opportunity for collaboration and creative expression”.

Beyond the monthly showcases, the partnership will extend to several complementary initiatives. EMCVPA’s School of Music will host a series of six master classes throughout the year, held on the third Friday of each month from 10:00 am to 12 noon, offering advanced training and industry insights.

In Montego Bay, a sister edition of JaRIA JaMz will be staged at Coral Cliff, featuring performances by students from EMCVPA’s associate degree programme at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College.

The collaboration will also bring Acoustic Evenings at Di Lot, a series of arts-based programmes combining live performances, industry talks, and conversations on the role of creative industries and education in shaping both community life and global culture.

This initiative is supported by Coral Cliff, Deja Resort, Sparkles Production, Digital Video Concepts, and Keymixx.