Ahead of the establishment of a performing arts academy in Montego Bay, St James, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) of the Ministry of Tourism has begun to train and harness talent in Western Jamaica through a month-long intensive workshop series.

The series is being implemented as a Level Up Performing Arts Masterclass Intensive Workshop, which Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has described as a capacity-building training programme aimed at “harnessing the skills of some of our budding artistes and entertainers, and enabling them to be part of the tourism explosion to come”.

The first workshop was completed by 52 people who were able to strengthen their performing skills in the areas of professional dance, vocal training, acting, performance skills, drumming, customer service, and communication skills.

PROGRAMME SPECIFICALLY TARGETED WESTERN PARTICIPANTS

Speaking during their graduation at the Montego Bay Conference Centre on Thursday (May 26), Bartlett said the programme specifically targeted western participants who did not have easy access to professional training as obtained in Kingston.

He explained that it was designed to help participants improve their skills and increase their employability, as well as to create a pool of trained performing artists from which entertainment managers and local hotel talent scouts can draw for performing arts talent from Western Jamaica.

Additionally, it is to provide a linkage opportunity for local hotel talent scouts to view dynamic and talented local performers and for businesses that utilise performing talent as part of their product offering.

Bartlett expressed the view that, while Jamaica was filled with talent in the areas of music, singing, dance and acting, the primary opportunities for formal training in these areas were predominantly located in Kingston. Consequently, people based in western Jamaica had to invest much more to relocate to be able to access these training opportunities.

“This challenge has impacted how western-based performers are able to develop their performance skills and thus be employable in the tourism sector,” he said.

He also expects that, by improving the skillset of the pool of people from which the hotels and attractions can select, this will disrupt the trend of importation of such talent.

The Level Up initiative has received the stamp of approval from the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

Speaking on behalf of JHTA President Clifton Reader, chairman of the Montego Bay Chapter, Nadine Spence, said it was a cause for celebration.

“We are therefore thankful for programmes like this, which are critical in providing that unique cultural element which differentiates Jamaica as a tourist destination,” Spence said.

Delivering welcome remarks, Dr Carey Wallace, executive director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, also posited that “the distinct advantage that we have as a destination is our cultural assets”.

Strong endorsement of the Level Up Performing Arts Masterclass Intensive Workshop was given by Director of Studies, School of Dance at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Neila Ebanks; Theatre Artist and Educator, Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis; and testimonials on how valuable it has been from participants Andre Walker and Hennesia Edwards.

The graduation was combined with an hour-long professionally arranged presentation by the participants showcasing their range of talents in what TEF Chairman Godfrey Dyer described as “an excellent show”.

The masters of ceremony were well-known Montego Bay compère, Brian Brown, and Level Up participant, Zuri Nguvu.