British High Commission welcomes Sir Willard

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Five years ago, at the institution's strategic planning session, the idea to have an alternative source of funding was discussed. Then the Arts Foundation of EMC was established in December 2010, becoming the central component in achieving the goal set out in the strategic planning.

Understandably, then, principal principal of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMC) Burchell Duhaney told The Gleaner "this is something that we have been longing for the past five years" at a reception organised by the British High Commission for Sir Willard White on Tuesday. Sir Willard will be performing at a concert organised by the Art Foundation, to be held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Sunday.

While the Arts Foundation and EMC were grateful to the British High Commission for hosting the reception, for the High Commission it was also cultural diplomacy - finding ways to develop on arts and culture in Jamaica as it is related to the youths. And EMC's involvement with youth makes it a likely candidate for support. Additionally, the High Commission thought it great to help the Foundation in a good cause, as it is celebration of friendship between the United Kingdom and Jamaica.

The reception saw a relatively small gathering and the concise programme had pianist Warren McPherson providing music at intervals. It entailed two auctions and very short speeches of welcome and greetings from The High Commissioner, His Excellency Howard Drake, and the Arts Foundation's chairman, Pat Ramsay, followed by a brief statement by Sir Willard White.

Glad to be in Jamaica

Sir Willard said it was great to be back in Jamaica. After sharing a brief anecdote about his sojourn into music and ending it with "I love singing, singing does something to my whole body," he said. I initially wanted to be an economist, as singing was seen as sissy stuff in Jamaica. "But I soon found out that singing is very challenging, very rewarding and very frustrating," he said. Sir Willard also believes that it is very rewarding to be promoting classical music in the land of reggae.

He shared too, his observation of how committed and passionate Jamaicans are in their performances, especially at the Independence Day Grand Gala. "Certainly not so refined as I expect to find in Europe, but there was something else that I never saw in Europe and that is commitment and passion. The passion came through the television like an inspiration," he said. He told the group that each person can make a difference.

Two types of auction completed the programme. In one instance there was the silent auction for vacation at local resorts. The vocal auction had guests bidding for 15 pieces of art work, from painting to sculpture. But when auctioneer William Tavares-Finson stopped his final bidding, only seven pieces had been sold.

Prior to the auction, in her greetings Pat Ramsay said "the artists have been wonderful in giving their works of art", this at competitive prices. Barrington Watson was among those donating his work, contributing 'St Thomas Landscape'.

Seed money

Later, Ramsay explained the initial objective of the Foundation. "We are just starting. This is like our seed money. We want to build it," she said. "After amassing a certain amount then we will begin the disbursement." Obviously passionate about her cause, Ramsay said that the Foundation's plan of action was spurred from seeing too many EMC students abandoning their studies due to financial constraints.

When the programme is implemented a committee will be formed to monitor students who have benefitted from scholarships or grants issued by the Foundation. Ramsay said that she would also like the Foundation to help the tutors of EMC with their training, to keep them abreast with what is happening in their field, but admitted that another group is needed to take that on.

An Evening with Sir Willard White, will not only be the first public event put on by the Art Foundation of Edna Manley College but also serve to publicly launch the Foundation.