JCDC new digital platform to be launched on TVJ Thursday

The official launch of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) opening of entries digital platform will be aired on Television Jamaica (TVJ) on Thursday, May 6, at 9:30 p.m. It will also be live-streamed on the JCDC’s social media channels, as well as the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) network.

The competitions were open Monday morning in a soft launch on the JCDC’s website, following last Thursday’s postponement of the virtual opening of entries event due to technical issues.

“Although we have started to accept entries, we will still host our official launch event this Thursday on local television stations and online, to give the public detailed information on our new online entry process,” Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, informed.

The minister further noted that the JCDC is taking a virtual approach to all of its 2021 competitions due to the national social-distancing protocols caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential entrants will now be required to submit their entries digitally via the JCDC’s online platform at www.jcdc.gov.jm, while the presentation of the competitions will also take place in a digital sphere.

The competitions that are now open for entries are the Jamaica Festival Song Competition, the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition, the Jamaica Culinary Arts Competition, the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition, the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition, and the National Festival of the Performing Arts subject areas of dance, drama and theatre, speech and music.

People interested in entering the 2021 competitions must first register for a JCDC ID number on the JCDC’s website. The ID number will be required to complete their entry for submission. Persons should also note that they are limited to one entry per competition. With the exception of the Jamaica Festival Song competition, all other competitions will be free for entry.

“We are charging a small fee of $1,000 for the Festival Song Competition as it is the only professional competition on the slate. Just like last year, we are looking forward to having some very big names in the music industry participating, as the level of interest shown so far has been very good. I want to wish all the participants in all the competitions the best of luck – may their dreams be fulfilled,” Grange said.