The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is upbeat about the strong response to the opening of entries for the 2025 Festival of the Performing Arts Competition.

This positive feedback comes a week after applications began on Monday, November 4.

The annual festival invites both aspiring and seasoned performers to compete in a range of disciplines, including speech, drama and theatre arts, music, dance, deaf dance, and traditional folk forms. Entries will close on December 13, 2024.

Lenford Salmon, executive director of the JCDC, expressed enthusiasm for the growing interest in the festival and its benefits for participants.

“It’s very exciting to see early entries coming in, with more individuals inquiring about the entry requirements. Performers and their leaders are eager to secure their spots early, allowing ample time to perfect their performances. This response reflects how people are embracing the festival’s long-standing tradition of unearthing and showcasing exceptional talent while fostering artistic development,” he stated.

Salmon also encouraged even more participants to take advantage of the benefits of early registration, noting how the JCDC’s new digital platform has simplified the process for participants.

“I’m calling on individuals, schools, churches, and community groups to register early. Our new digital entry platform, JCDC Awards Force, allows participants to submit and update their entries from any location—whether via smartphone, laptop, or desktop. This means performances don’t need to be ‘stage-ready’ at the time of entry, and the feedback shows that the process is much easier.”

While the digital platform offers great convenience, Salmon also acknowledged that some participants may prefer more direct assistance. “We understand that some of our clients may not be as technologically experienced and may prefer hands-on support. That’s why I want to emphasize that our dedicated staff at any of our 13 JCDC Parish Offices are fully prepared and eager to assist with any part of the registration process.”

JCDC Awards Force is a key part of the JCDC’s ongoing efforts to innovate and enhance accessibility for registering for its competitions. Over the years, the JCDC has continuously refined its entry methods, transitioning from hard copy forms to downloadable PDFs, then to online entry forms, and, earlier this year, to a fully digital system. While the previous system allowed digital uploads, it became clear that a more streamlined and user-friendly experience was needed.

 Looking ahead, the JCDC aims to return to pre-COVID participation levels, targeting approximately 10,000 entries for the 2025 competitions—a significant increase over last year’s total of over 8,000 entries. With the increased accessibility provided by the digital platform, the JCDC is optimistic that this goal will be reached.

Those interested in participating in the JCDC’s 2025 Competitions are encouraged to visit the JCDC website at www.jcdc.gov.jm to view rules and guidelines and to complete their registration on the JCDC’s digital platform at jcdc.awardsplatform.com. For additional assistance, participants may also call or visit their nearest JCDC parish office.