Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will honour outstanding individuals, schools and ensembles at the 30th JCDC Marcus Garvey Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts on October 1.

The awards ceremony will be held at Little Theatre in St Andrew and will recognise the outstanding performers and teachers who made invaluable contributions to the national performing arts competitions organised by the JCDC and staged earlier this year.

Minister of Culture, Gender and Entertainment & Sport Olivia Grange will the host the event.

Commenting on the calibre of performers this year, she pointed out that the awards ceremony is a testament to the generally high standard of the entries received each year for JCDC competitions, and further highlights the role of the JCDC as an incubator that serves as an invaluable feeder to the ecosystem of the cultural and creative industries.

“Each year teachers, students and other individuals literally outdo themselves as they raise the bar with their talents and performances. I am forever impressed by the way Jamaicans show up and show out each year as they participate in the annual festival of the performing arts. This underscores how talented we are as Jamaicans and in no uncertain terms contributes to the further development and preservation of the country’s rich cultural tapestry,” Grange remarked.

The highlight of the event will be the announcement of the coveted top prize, the Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts, which is presented to the school or group securing the most points from its participation in the Festival of the Performing Arts competitions.

Among this year’s nominees are Ardenne High School in St Andrew, seeking its 13th hold on the prestigious title and trophy, and St Jago High from St Catherine hoping to match Ardenne’s 12 trophies. First-time nominee Godfrey Stewart Performing Arts Society from Westmoreland and returning nominees Green Island High School from Hanover and the Port Antonio Theatre Group from Portland are also in the running.

Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams will make the keynote address at this year’s ceremony.

The JCDC Marcus Garvey Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts Ceremony was first staged in 1994. Other awards to be presented include Outstanding Presentations, Outstanding Teacher, and Special Achievement Awards.

As the primary organisation in the Ministry of Culture, Gender and Entertainment & Sport that promotes excellence across all the performing arts —  music, dance, drama, traditional folk forms and speech —  the JCDC provides a platform for Jamaicans to showcase their talent and creativity through national competitions, festivals, and other program,ess that span a wide range of art forms.