Ardenne High School secured its 13th hold on JCDC Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts after being announced the 2024 winner of the prize during a ceremony held at Little Theatre in St Andrew on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The award, presented by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), celebrates the Corporate Area school’s excellence in the various National Festival of the Performing Arts competitions held earlier this year.

In addition to the overall award, Ardenne High cemented its position as a powerhouse of the performing arts, walking away with twelve awards across speech, drama and music categories.

In commenting on the win following the awards, Gracia Thompson, co-curricular coordinator at Ardenne High School, said it was a pleasure to participate in the National Festival of the Arts year after year, something which is not offered in many other countries.

“We are proud but humbled. The students have worked extremely hard and we know that we were up against some great competition. What the JCDC does in unearthing and developing the creative talent of the Jamaican people is a remarkable thing and something that we are proud to participate in. In a sense we are a product of that mission” she said.

Thompson added that even the mere act of participating in the various competitions boosts student morale boost and helps them build Ardenne’s reputation and standing as a performing arts high school.

“Winning was the icing on the cake for us all – teachers and students alike,” she beamed.

“The students — based on the kind of work they have to put in with rehearsals starting almost simultaneously with the start of the school year in September, and stretching all the way to the end of the festival season in May — they feel a great sense of reward from earning this title year after year. It comes down to dedication,” Thompson continued.

Executive director of the JCDC Lenford Salmon highlighted the importance of the work of the commission, noting the transformative role the arts plays in the development of students.

“The arts as a development of human capital is unquestionable. I have seen it at work. I see students
who show little or no interest in school, are convinced to get involved with the arts, and are literally transformed. The teachers would encourage them to get involved in the performing arts clubs and
societies on campus, with a condition that in order to be involved they must attend classes. All of a
sudden that student does not miss a day of school. I have seen it transform children in amazing ways,”
stated Salmon.

The JCDC Marcus Garvey Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts was first introduced in 1994. The
award is given to the school or group that auccmulates the most points based on their awards at the
national finals at the annual Festival of the Performing Arts. The event also recognises the work of the
top teachers and tutors who prepare the participants in the festival.

The JCDC also used the occasion to remind all groups (schools and community groups) that entries for all
JCDC competitions (2025) will “open” on Monday, November 4, 2024, and will close on Friday, December
13, 2024.