CULTURAL VIBZ

Jamaica & Design

2010-04-22T21:07:00.003-07:00

As long as humankind as been around we have been creating or planning how to create something.

Handcart man navigating the busy streets of

downtown Kingston, heading to Coronation Market.

Various cultures have had significant influence on product design in Jamaica; from: the Tainos – Hammock and Jerk, the African – Bankra basket, Yabba pot, Marta pestle and the Europeans – architecture (Georgian building, fretwork) and the Rastafarian's – music, art, craft and language.

Jamaica has produced its own brand of creations and innovations for example: the Handcart, the Sound System Box, Dutch Pot, Coal Stove, Jerk Pan, Breshe Ring, Coconut Brush, Calabash and Cowhorn bags. Our foods like Bulla, Bun, Hardo Bread, Busta, Asham and Drops are all unique Jamaican creations.

Steps have been taken to implement a design policy for Jamaican products. ‘The National Industrial Policy – A Strategic Plan for Economic Growth and Development’ was presented to the nation but the implementation of the policy was partial, various attempts have been made to develop a plan for craft design such as Edward Seaga’s Ministry Paper entitled ‘Craft Development Policy’. However these strategies are yet to be realized.

Yet the design industry is not without regulation. There are various government agencies that train, evaluate, regulate and protect products and services. These institutions have their own policies, procedures and guidelines for the industry.

Regulatory Bodies

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) – formulates, promotes and implements standards for goods, services and processes. The Bureau develops and enforces technical regulations for commodities and practices that affect health and safety.

National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) – promotes sustainable development by ensuring protection of the environment. NEPA regulates product that impact on the environment or that uses natural resources; such as the Lignum Vitae wood.

Jamaica Production (JAMPRO) promotes the development of trade and industry, and export and investment activities in all sectors of the Jamaican economy. Focus is placed on targeted sectors like tourism, agri-business, information and communication technology, mining, the creative industries and manufacturing.

Tourism Development Product Company (TPDCo) maintains, develops and enhances the tourism product, ensuring compliance with international standards. TPDCo plans and promotes various strategies for product diversification through heritage tourism, events tourism, community tourism and eco-tourism.

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) provides professional consultations for business owners and entrepreneurs on product design, business plans, financing, marketing and preparing for exporting.

The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) administers intellectual property systems in the areas of Trade Marks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, Copyright and Related Rights, Patent, New Plant Varieties and Layout-Designs (Topographies). They assist business owners and entrepreneurs to identify Intellectual Property (IP) opportunities and recommend steps to protect and exploit their IP.

There is no framework for training in product design. Institutions like Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts, The University of the West Indies, University of Technology and the Northern Caribbean University offer programmes aimed at introducing design methodology.

There is a lot of research and development that comes out of these universities that aid the design industry in Jamaica. Such as the Northern Caribbean Universities research into the health benefits of sorrel; a drink made from the Roselle plant that is consumed mostly in the Christmas season.

Jamaica : Radio & Television

2010-04-22T21:07:00.001-07:00

An Historic Reflection...

Antique Radio & Television set

The roots of radio production in Jamaica can be traced back to the war times of the 1930s; when a local operator John Grinan convinced the government to use his amateur equipment to operate a public broadcasting system.

The government adapted his system to meet local demand and regular scheduled broadcasts began in November, 1939.

The first radio station was called VP5PZ which was Grinan’s call-sign. It started with a single broadcast a week. In a year the station had a small staff and daily broadcast began in June, 1940.

Despite the adversity of operating in the inadequate space of Grinan’s home; the broadcasts grew increasingly better. In addition to wartime and other news the station started offering more and more information, eventually hosting interviews and live performances from local acts.

VP5PZ laid the foundation for the sounds emanating from Jamaican radio today; delivering news and other information and showcasing Jamaica’s local artists and culture.

The government eventually decided to only play a regulatory role in the radio industry and issued licenses to private companies to provide broadcasting services.

Radio Jamaica got the first license in 1949. A subsidiary of the Re-diffusion Group in London, England, Radio Jamaica is responsible for covering the entire island with radio broadcasting reaching rural residents as well as to urbanites.

The company distributed wireless sets to about 200 listening posts around the island at gathering spots like in the schools, police stations and shops with the communities. The entity decided that its revenue would come solely from commercials and from sponsored radio programmes; and advertisers where forced to pay for air time and listeners had their programming interrupted by advertisements.

Miss Lou (left) chats with Juanita Poiter (right), wife of actor Sidney Poitier, and Burley Dixon, wife of Ivan Dixon, star of the former TV series Hogans Heroes' on an episode of 'Ring Ding' in 1973.

1963 - Mr. Hugh Begg of the Scottish Television Consortium, adds his signature to contract for the establishment of television services in Jamaica. Rt.Hon. Edward Seaga, Minister of Development and welfare signs on behalf of Government.

The television industry started in the 1950s. The Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) was established by law in 1958 and launched in 1959. The corporation provided a greater focus on Jamaican culture with programmes like the variety show 'Ring Ding' hosted by Louise 'Ms. Lou' Bennett-Coverley. But the entity was plagued by financial woes, protests of bipartisan journalism and poor management. In 1972 its television and Radio 2 assets were bought by Radio Jamaica for about $70 million.

Radio Jamaica later became the RJR Communication Group and acts as an umbrella company for: Radio Jamaica Limited, Television Jamaica Limited, and Multi-Media Jamaica Ltd.

Jamaica & the Performing Arts

2010-04-05T19:18:00.001-07:00

Jamaica has made great strides in the area of the performing arts.

Jamaicans have a rich traditional cultural heritage. Out Folklore has enriched the performing arts: dance; theatre; music, paintings and designs. We draw inspiration from the stories we heard growing up as well as the saying our parents and grandparents use to chant when correcting us:

‘Hard ayse pickney nyam rackstone”; translated – ‘children who do not listen learn the hard way’.

Or ‘Chicken merry hawk deh near’; translated – ‘excessive exuberance invites trouble’.

Our theatre sector has evolved from the 1600s Shakespearean plays of the colonial era to authentic Jamaican plays fusing our traditional folklore; storytelling, music, humour and dance such as ‘pantomime’, traditional Jamaican plays, and ‘roots theatre’. The crowd favourite ‘roots theatre’ is often riotous, bawdy, and full of sexual innuendo.

An important part of Jamaican theatre is the Jamaican Language. An evolution from the African Twi language mixed with the European English language and our own creativity.

The performing arts industry is supported by entities such as: the little theatre movement, the Pantomime Company of Jamaica, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), Creative Production Training Centre (CPTC), and Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts.

Individuals like: Wycliffe Bennett, Trevor Rhone, Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley, Oliver Samuels, Trevor Naire, Leonie Samuels, Fae Ellington, Glen Campbell and scores of others have given years of yeoman service to its development.

The Honourable Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett-Coverley will always be remembered and cherished for her work in promoting Jamaica’s indigenous language . The playwright Trevor Rhone will also be remembered for his work in exploring issues surrounding racism and classism in Jamaica.

Our Dance...

The unfamiliar movements of African dancing was rejected by the Europeans enslavers who considered them crude and graceless. The National Dance Theatre Company was formed in 1962 by the late Professor Rex Nettle at the time when Jamaica was celebrating its independence from 300 years of British rule. The company of dancers decided to base their choreography on traditional Jamaican ceremonies and dances such as ‘Kumina’; which became one of the company's most successful performances.

Scenes from 'The Crossing'

Choreography by Rex Nettleford

Although the dance sector as grown many in the industry feel that in terms of funding and a police framework dance is seen at the bottom of the totem pole.

L'Acadco Dance Ensemble, ASHE and Praise Academy are all professional dance companies helping artistes to develop their craft and performances. Entities like the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Digicel Rising Star and Dancing Dynamites are helping to unearth local talent in the performing arts industry.

Jamaica: Publishing Industry

2010-03-27T16:40:00.002-07:00

The Gleaner, October 13, 1965

Traditionally the term publishing refers to the distribution of printed works: books, newspapers and journals.

The face of publishing industry has changed because of digital information and the internet. Publishing has now expanded to include electronic books, tweets, blogs, websites as well as other forms of new media.

Printed works can be tracked back in Jamaican history to the early 1700s.   The Weekly Jamaican Courant was a 1718 publication.   In the 1830s Jamaican newspaper history was made with the launch of The Daily Gleaner.

In the 1990s Jamaica imported US$2.3 million in news-print rolls; by 1996, it had grown to US$7.5 million. Newsprint formed one of the significant import segments for Jamaica.

By the twenty-first century the industry amassed a vast majority of media ranging from daily newspapers, websites and blogs spreading information on Jamaican people and culture. The three major dailies are: the Daily Gleaner known now solely as the Gleaner, the Observer and the Star. Recent additions include the Xnews and the Chat.


Highlighting the controversial issue of Jamaica’s political link with the dons and guns trade, from Gleaner Newspaper cartoonist Clovis.


In addition to local publications; news, comics, gaming, financial, social and lifestyle magazines, along with books and journals from media in the US and UK are often available in bookstores and pharmacies.

Online there are websites like: the Gleaner’s www.Go-jamaica.com, www.Jamaicans.com and www.ackee.com. There is also scores of sites on vacationing that give information on Jamaica.

The Gleaner Company has the strongest footing in the industry. Of Jamaican newspapers, the Gleaner claimed the highest circulation, boasting 100,000 copies printed on Sundays.

The company’s newspapers include The Gleaner, which contains news, views, sports, and reporting for morning reading; The Sunday Gleaner, a weekend newspaper for families; The Star, a tabloid for afternoon shoppers and readers; The Weekend Star that covers Jamaican music, dance, theatre, and social culture news; Track and Pools, designed as a service for the flat racing fraternity; and The Children's Own, a weekly newspaper during school terms to promote creative learning and to develop scholastic endeavors.

The Gleaner targets young, male readers. Of the chain's readers, 43 percent made between US$31,000 and US$45,000 a year; some 32 percent make US$30,000 or less. Only 12 percent earn US$46,000 or more. Its website go-jamaica is in its thirteenth year of operation and has 120 million hits per month.

The Gleaner newspaper archives is another invaluable documented source on Jamaica. For a small fee users can access more than 100 years of the history of Jamaica. The archives web address is http://gleaner.newspaperarchive.com

The Jamaica Observer founded in the early 1990s is its strongest competitor and is doing a good job of rivaling the kind of coverage found in the Gleaner, printed in a smaller more manageable tabloid format with a broadsheet bent.

Jamaica: Interactive Leisure Software

2010-03-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

The interactive leisure software industry comprises of personal computers (PC) and console software games development and console manufacturing.

The industry is characterised by recurring ups and down typical of technological products that have shorter life cycles. New games and consoles are constantly superseded by the next generation of powerful consoles or more enhanced game play.

Over the last thirty years the industry has grown from a cottage industry to one dominated by publicly owned global publishers selling to mass markets. The global market is now worth well over 15 billion dollars. The UK and Japan are among the world leaders. The UK leisure software market has grown at a massive rate of 36% over the past year. The UK enjoys a future balance of trade in interactive leisure software of around £225m, making this sector one of the best performing of its creative industries.

Jamaicans are very much into gaming there are several thriving retailers like Watts New and Royale Computers who stock video games, gaming consoles and varying accessories for their customers and also Game Yaad that offers repair services for gaming consoles.

The console market is dominated by Sony (Playstation), Microsoft (Xbox) and the Nintendo (Wii). Some of the most popular games are 'Halo' by game developers Bungie and 'Gears of Wars' created by Epic Games. There are scores of others for sports, adventure and virtual worlds.

PC games are not as popular or as widely purchased as console games. This may be because of the graphics capabilities of the console verses the PC. There is a market however for PC games because the industry is more open and publishers don’t have to pay fees or seek permission to make PC games which tends to make those games cheaper for consumers.

There is also the phenomenon of online gaming and virtual worlds which are not just about entertainment but a new kind to cultural experience that is creating real world monetary gains for developers.

Jamaica does not have an interactive leisure software industry. The Jamaican culture is pregnant with areas to explore for game development. Jamaican designers, writers and programmers are not lacking in the creativity or technological skills to create games and build consoles. However there is no funding available through the government or private sector for such initiatives.

The development of the gaming industry impacts on the economic output of related industries such as television and film. The interactive software industry is definitely an area that the government and private sector should seriously consider for investment; these games require voice actors, music directors, writers and other industry players which would produce jobs and tax revenue.

Jamaican Music

2010-03-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

"But you mustn't forget that Jamaica is an island in which everybody is a star." - Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.

I would add: and where creativity is bursting out around every street corner and every disadvantaged youth as a song, dance, act.
Everyman man on the corner is waiting for his share of the pie.

Jamaica’s Music Industry is the strongest of all the creative industries. Jamaica is most known for its Reggae music through the iconic Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff and scores of others.

The International Reggae Conference 2010 was held at the Mona Visitor’s Lodge and the keynote speaker was the Hon. Minister of Culture Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange.

In her address to the Reggae enthusiast she sent out a warning that if steps were not taken immediately, Jamaica could no longer be synonymous with Reggae music. “Jamaica is losing its grip not only on the distribution, but also on the very production of the music” she said.

Jamaicans do have a strong repulsion against homosexuality and yes there are those who advocate violence against homosexuals. It crept into our music as a form of hype in the Dancehall space. Why? How did we get here? This is not where we began. One Love One Heart? Out Of Many One People?

In Europe and the states artistes who are singing conscious songs are constantly replacing our local acts.

Gay-rights lobbyists are battling artists like Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer, and Sizzla Kalonji and Capleton successfully banning them from several international concerts. The Jamaican Music Industry is dependent on revenue from live performance, fewer appearances on international tours and events may also lead to a reduction in record sales and in turn revenues.

There is hope for Dancehall music, several acts have rejected to join the hardcore sect, and have taken to parody and more constructive social commentary in their lyrical content; so maybe, just maybe 'all di sexy body gal dem' lyrics will get a rest and we can hear songs that challenge us to consider our social situations and laugh at ourselves.

Jamaican music is not just Reggae and Dancehall, there is Mento, Ska, Rocksteady and Dub. Yet the air waves are mostly filled with Dancehall music and most times the lewdest of that genre. While our other musical forms are neglected. Producers feel that there is no demand for them. Yet instead of sexually charged and hate filled music, we could be supplying the European market with conscious sounds; there is demand for the older music from the Studio One and Treasure Isle heyday which impersonators are gladly filling.

Reggae is not the only music we are losing control of; there are presently more Ska bands in Europe than in Jamaica. A geographic protection and description is needed for Jamaica music one that details its origin and defines what Reggae, Ska, Dub, Mento and Rocksteady entails in term of the beats, instruments and measures. This is one of the possibilities that should be explored by the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) and the Ministry Youth, Sport and culture.

Jamaica & Architecture

2010-03-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

Deputy Mayor of Kingston Lee Clarke (left), and Town Clerk Errol Greene (right) watch as Kingston and St Andrew Corporation engineers carry out tests on a partially-collapsed building in Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew.

On Tuesday April 27 the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) placed a stop order on work on a four-storey building in Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew, parts of which collapsed and killed forty year old contractor Denton Redwood and injuring four other workers. The building has several faults including weak concrete columns and beams.

Jamaicans do not use architects. We seem to be stuck with the mentality of the plantation days where houses were built with stone and wood. Any man who could see to put stone and wood together could build a house.

We are yet to bring architecture into the 21st century where there are processes and procedures to follow.

The services of architects are usually a necessity for medium to large corporations. But the average Jamaica will pay a draftsman to draw up some plans and then get cheap labourers to build their house or small business.

Admittedly the price of an architect’s services can run into the hundreds of thousands but these are the persons who are professionally trained to engineer the construction of four (4) storey high buildings. And who can stem the senseless lost to life.

The Jamaican Architectural Industry is small with about 50 – 300 practitioners. The impact of technology – the internet and e-commerce has enabled the architect to work with organizations globally without having to leave his/her desk. Today’s architectural offices are paperless and most use computer aided drafting to design the work.

The architect offer representation for their client and their duties normally entail:

 Visiting the site
 Coming up with a concept or design
 Designing in detail the concept
 Providing a working drawing – blueprint
 Submitting the necessary documents for the approval process

Building approval must be sought from the various regulatory agencies before any new structure, modification of existing structure, change of use or addition to any structure commences. The major players in the approval process are:

• The Local Authority (Parish Council)
• National Environmental & Planning Agency
• National Works Agency
• Fire Brigade
• The Ministry of Health
• National Water Commission

 Supervise the site during the building process

On the issue of approval for building; Deputy Mayor of Kingston Mr. Clarke said that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) would be stepping up the pressure on persons who breach the city’s building code.

Jamaica: Film Industry

2010-02-20T11:30:00.001-08:00

The Mexican writer and literature noble prize winner, Octavio Paz said that ‘ every culture is born from mixing, meeting and clashes. Conversely it is from isolation that civilizations die’.

There is therefore a great need for societies to understand and respect one another and to innovate. The Film Industry is then the ideal tool to help societies to accomplish this objective.

According to Brian St. Juste president of the Jamaica Film & Video Production Association in a Gleaner article dated February 19, 2006 the Jamaican film industry earns an estimated $1.5 billion annually.

The industry which had it birth in the 1950’s under Britain’s colonial power has journeyed from the 1951 ‘Let’s stop them’ (a film about perennial larceny) and in two decades in an emancipated Jamaica through the work of Perry Henzell, Trevor Rhone and a talented staff and crew created the 1972 hit ‘The Harder They Come’ (a film which explored the music, drug trade and social conditions of the time) arguably the best film production in Jamaica to date.

The industry has produced films at various points in time, some very successful some are merely a blimp on the radar:

1973/4 ‘Marijuana Affair’ - William Greeves

1974/5 ‘Every Nigger is a Star’ - Calvin Lockhart

1976 ‘Smile Orange’ - Trevor Rhone

1982 ‘Countryman’ - Dicky Jobson

1997 ‘Dancehall Queen’ – Rick Elgood/Don Letts

1999: ‘Third World Cop’ – Chris Browne

2002 ‘Shottas’ – Cess Silvera

2003 ‘One Love’ – Rick Elgood/ Don Letts

2006 ‘The Candy Shop’ – Joel Burke.

This profusion of time between really successful films has led many to feel as if nothing is being done within the industry.

Much like America’s film industry ‘Hollywood’ there are no policy guidelines set by government for Jamaica’s Film Industry. The Jamaican film industry consists of both local productions and the export of film services fueled by the country's popularity and success as a production location.

The slew of Jamaican films that have been produced are by private individuals who have a passion to work in the business. Despite an abundance of available content, talent and technical expertise, the quality and quantity of local feature films, documentaries and television programmes have been constrained by the inability of local filmmakers and producers to raise sufficient funding and support for projects.

There is an arm of the Government of Jamaica the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) that has the infrastructure, equipment, resources and competence to create feature films for the Jamaican public. However, this venture has not been exploited JIS only produces non-commercial content on government policies.

According to Jamaica's Film Commission, Jamaica facilitates 150 film projects annually, with associated foreign exchange inflows of US$14 million and direct employment for over 2,000 creative professionals.

The local film industry in Jamaica is made up of entrepreneurs such as Nile and Storm Saulter, Michelle Serieux, Joel Burke, Ras Kassa and others who are passionate about the sector and bringing their stories to life. They have united to network and pool their resources hoping the powers that be will wake up and see the potential for economic growth in what they have dedicated their lives to doing.

Jamaica: Advertising Industry

2010-02-14T07:16:00.001-08:00

The Advertisement Industry has an estimated value of $12 billion.

According to the President of the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica Mr. Arnold 'JJ' Foote; Jamaica's advertising industry is more superior to those in more developed countries. This he said is because Advertisement in Jamaica is seen as more that just TV ads and is looked at as a total communication package that can change the face of a company or the government.

Jamaica

’s advertisement industry is divided between advertising agencies and the freelancers. The stark realities of the economic climate have caused many faithful of the formal and structured advertising system to be tempted to use the services of freelancers or perform advertising agency services in-house.

The communication package entails: consumer research, management of client marketing activity/communication plans, identifying consumer tastes and responses, the creation of advertisements, production of advertising materials, promotion, PR campaigns as well as media planning, buying and evaluation.

Mr. Foote advises against companies using the services of freelancers. He said the disadvantage of using freelance communications is that most freelancers are without the business acumen required to communicate a relevant message that keeps an organization in the eyes of the audience.

Courts Jamaica is an example of a company that has internalized its advertising services. The decline in their communication package is noticeable; although it could be argued that this decline is as a result of the economic climate.

There is scope for growth in the industry because of the constant spout of talented artists, writers and managers leaving institutions like Edna Manley College, the University of the West Indies, the University of Technology and Excelsior Community College into the job pool. However the image of the advertising agency is not appealing as graduates who have little to no experience in the industry and are asked by Advertising agencies to work for free or on a meagre stipend for periods up to a year. This is usually a turn off for most grads that have to work to pay back student loans and other financial debts. This will lead many to become freelancers or to migrate to where they will receive far greater financial benefits.

The Art Industry

2010-02-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Our not so hidden jewel....

Jamaican art can be traced back to the civilization to the Tainos, Spaniards and the English. This era speaks of a diversity of cultures that clashed by force, greed, geography, love, hate and slavery.

The strongest influence on Jamaican art is derived from the English as seen in the sketches and paintings of Isaac Mendez Belasario and the works of the intuitives John Dunkley and Colin Garland.

“Koo-Koo or “Actor Boy” sketches of Characters, In illustration of the Habits, Occupation and Costume of the Negro Population in the island of Jamaica 1837.

The costumes and accessories of Actor Boy illustrates the European luxury items such as the fan and the mask showing the clear cultural mix taking place at the time.

Jamaican art as we know it today evolved out of the 1930’s social and political awakening. Edna Manley 1935 sculpture “Negro Aroused” stands has an icon of that early movement.

Veerle Poopeye Director of the National Gallery of Jamaica states: ‘The dominance of sculpture and specifically woodcarving in early modern Jamaican art is exceptional… and may be attributed to the revival of African traditions in Jamaican culture and accompanied cultural nationalism’.

Jamaica’s art market is described as one in which the works sold are usually: original, primarily second-hand and buyers only buy the work and not the copyright to it. The market is also dominated by an elite few: collectors, curators and gallery owners who determine which artist and artistic styles to promote.
There are 18 commercial galleries in operation in Jamaica, mainly in Kingston, St. Ann and St. James. There is only one art museum; the National Gallery of Jamaica. It was established by the Institute of Jamaica to house the national collection of art.

Data on the Jamaica’s Art Industry is difficult to collate and this is where the problems beginning when trying to map the industry. The problem is not unique to

Jamaica

; the lack of quantifiable information on the art market is a worldwide phenomenon.

This is mainly because the issue of what is considered art is very subjective. Anyone can call themselves an artist, and can call what they have created art, and they can set any value to it. Art can also be bought, sold and given away privately.

The Jamaican art market is estimated to be worth between $3 - 5 million. Among the noted names in the art industry are Kapo, Albert Huie, Barrington Watson, Karl Parboosingh, David Pottinger, Colin Garland, Carl Abrahams, David Boxer, Milton George, Osmond Watson, Eric Cadien, Edna Manley, Samere Tansley, Petrona Morrison, Margaret Chen, Laura Facey Cooper, Dawn Scott and my favorite Christopher Gonzales amoung others.

The Fashion Industry

2010-02-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

Striving On Our Own

The average Jamaican would be hard pressed to tell the name of two Jamaican Fashion Designers. Recognition from John public is just one of the many problems that plague the landscape of Jamaica’s Fashion Industry.

Assistance from the public and private sector in terms of providing funding; quality equipment and supplies and the impossibility of competing with cheaper goods entering the country from China and India are among the other the ills of the Industry.

In developing societies like Jamaica there is need for greater commercial exploitation of artistic talents and cultural heritage and for ensuring that these form an integral part of the trade and investment programmes of Ministries responsible for Foreign Trade. It is ironic that our cultural products continue to be undervalued here at home even when they have crossed borders and established significant market niches in a large number of developed countries. - The cultural policy of Jamaica.

The German multinational company PUMA is a prime example of how companies have been capitalizing on the vibrancy of the Jamaican culture. PUMA created a ‘Jamaica Collection’ for its line of athletic shoes and other sportswear and have achieved great success from this venture.

In 2007 28.67 million pounds were funded to ten (10) business clusters by the Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) through a five (5) year technical assistance programme financed by the European Commission and Government of Jamaica.

One of those business clusters is the Jamaican Fashion and Apparel Cluster. The cluster offers business and technical assistance, fashion and design services, pattern development, business development advice.

Its objectives are to: 1. build the capacity of cluster members and in turn the industry through education and training via workshops, conferences and field trips. 2. Market and promote the products of cluster members through trade shows, fashion shows, retail promotions, joint ventures and collaborations. 3. Product development and 4. Website development.

Steps have been made over the years by various entrepreneurs to develop the industry. In 2001, Pulse conceived, organized and produced the inaugural Caribbean Fashion week (CFW). Described by British Vogue as “one of the important new trends in world fashion,” CFW has become widely acclaimed, and is seen in over 150 countries via the Fashion TV channel.

Pulse International was founded in 1980 by Kingsley Cooper and Hilary Phillips and is now a fashion/entertainment industry powerhouse and an icon in Caribbean style, representing some of the world’s foremost models. Mr. Cooper will be given an award for lifetime achievement at the annual staging of ‘Caribbean Fashion Rocks!’ in New York on April 25, 2010.

Modelling agencies Saints International, Pulse Modelling Agency (Pulse hosts Fashion Week and Saint International hosts Style Week and the Caribbean model search), Champs Model Management and Miguel models are all entities with unparalleled commitment to the development of the local fashion industry and its fashion and accessories designers, models, photographers, hairstylists, and fashion stylists.

Unlike the powerful fashion houses of Paris, Milan and New York that have been created better financed, regulated and protected for centuries; Jamaica’s Fashion industry is still up and coming.

2010-02-07T08:23:00.001-08:00

Jamaica's Craft Industry

'The creativity, the colour and the richness of the craft and the enduring spirit of our craft traders are the qualities that appeal to our visitors and capture their imagination.' - Binger.K, 2002

The main activities undertaken by Jamaica's craft traders are the creation of textile, ceramic, jewellery, metal and glass works. These are usually handmade and the skill is one that is past down within generations of family members. A large amount of Jamaica's craft traders do the art as a substitute income and usually have a second job.

Over the years there has been a lot of talk but little action from the government to improve Jamaica's Craft Industry. This may be due to the fact that this industry like the other creative industries in Jamaica is hard to classify and quantify. Craft Traders usually sell the pieces themselves directly to the public and as the returns are most times very modest they generally fall below the tax threshold.

The government’s attitude may be changing since there is now a renewed interest to upgrade the industry because of its impact on our tourism sector.

An article published by the Gleaner Company dated December 10, 2009 reports that the Tourism Ministry is undertaking an $87 million exercise to upgrade craft markets in resort towns across Jamaica.

These towns include; Musgrave Craft Market in Portland; the Ocho Rios Crafts Market in St Ann; the Old fort and Harbour Street Craft markets in Montego Bay; and the Negril Craft Market in Westmorland.

The only problem I have with this approach is the negative impact it will have when all the focus and funding is place on the craft markets in resort towns.

What will happen to the already run down shell that is the Kingston Craft Market built from 1872 it is the oldest and most neglected of all the craft markets and what about craft entities such as Things Jamaican?

The Craft Industry should be developed across the board so that craft products manufactured and sold in Jamaica is of top quality in Montego Bay as well as in Kingston.

A major area of discontent to customers who buy our craft products is the poor quality with which they are made and the lack of diversity and creativity in the design of the products.

The same article speaks of a collaborative effort that will be undertaken by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Jamaica Business Development Centre, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and the HEART Trust/NTA to produce a craft development strategy.

I can only hope that this initiative will come to fruition and that part of their goal will be to provide product development training for our craft traders.