The importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in preserving and promoting Jamaica’s artistic heritage took centre stage as government officials, cultural leaders and members of the artistic community gathered at the National Gallery of Jamaica for a special viewing of Of Wood and Water: The Scotiabank Collection.

Hosted by Scotiabank Jamaica in partnership with the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ), the event celebrated an exhibition that brings together more than 60 works of art, including 48 from the Scotiabank Jamaica Art Collection, alongside selected works from Jamaica’s National Collection, creating a dialogue between one of the Caribbean’s largest corporate art collections and the country’s premier public collection.

Addressing specially invited guests, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, described the exhibition as an example of what can be achieved when government, cultural institutions and the private sector work together to preserve and celebrate Jamaica’s artistic legacy.

“Scotiabank has demonstrated over many years a genuine love for Jamaican art. Its commitment is evident in the development and preservation of Scotiabank Jamaica Art Collection as well as the support for artists’ exhibitions and programmes, and this is especially significant when you consider the bank’s long history in Jamaica.  She continued, “[This exhibition] demonstrates what can be achieved when government and the private sector come together for the cultural benefit of the country and empower their respective teams to develop their ideas through sustained dialogue, scholarship, trust and professional collaboration. It allows institutions to combine their resources, their expertise and their connections in ways that create greater value for the public than either institution could produce independently.

“Of Wood and Water brings selections from the Scotiabank Jamaica Art Collection into dialogue with key works from the National Collection. In doing so, the exhibition allows different artistic generations, institutional histories and perspectives to meet within one national space. It also recognises that significant works by Jamaican artists are held not only in public institutions but also within long-standing corporate collections, and when these works are properly researched, preserved and made accessible, they contribute to a fuller understanding of Jamaica’s artistic and cultural journey.”

The Minister noted that the collaboration grew out of conversations between Scotiabank and the National Gallery of Jamaica and commended both organisations for creating an exhibition that demonstrates how corporate collections can contribute meaningfully to the nation’s cultural development.

President and CEO of Scotia Group Jamaica, Audrey Tugwell Henry, said the exhibition reflects Scotiabank’s longstanding belief that investing in culture is an investment in communities and national development. “At Scotiabank, we believe investing in art is about far more than building a collection. It is about preserving Jamaica’s cultural legacy, strengthening our institutions and creating opportunities for people to engage with the stories, creativity and identity that define us as a nation,” she said. “Public access matters because art should not remain confined to private spaces. It belongs in conversation with the people, communities and landscapes it represents. We are proud to be custodians of these works, and prouder still to see them in a space where they can educate, inspire and encourage meaningful engagement.”

She noted that Scotiabank’s Global Art Program manages more than 6,000 works across its international footprint, with Jamaica accounting for approximately 1,600 pieces, making it one of the Bank’s largest collections worldwide.

Senior Director of the National Gallery of Jamaica, Dr Nadine Boothe, said the collaboration illustrates what is possible when institutions unite around a shared commitment to making Jamaican art more accessible. “The exhibition is the result of a shared vision that Jamaican art should be preserved, studied, celebrated and brought into public conversation,” Boothe said. “By bringing the Scotiabank Jamaica Art Collection into dialogue with works from the National Collection, we have created an exhibition that demonstrates the power of institutional cooperation.”

Co-curated by Antwain Clarke, Associate Curator for Scotiabank’s Caribbean Fine Art Program, and O’Neil Lawrence, Chief Curator of the National Gallery of Jamaica, Of Wood and Water examines Jamaica’s evolving relationship with landscape through three thematic chapters: Superposition, Metamorphism, and Rupture.

Drawing inspiration from the Taíno name for Jamaica, Xaymaca, meaning “the land of wood and water,” the exhibition explores how landscape has shaped the country’s history, identity and imagination, while highlighting themes of memory, transformation, resilience and renewal through works by some of Jamaica’s most celebrated artists.

The exhibition remains open to the public at the National Gallery of Jamaica until September 13, 2026.