The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) has a rich tradition of producing meaningful events showcasing the excellence in training offered to aspiring artists across the visual and performing arts discipline.
So, it’s expected that this season will be packed with eight events including a dancehall musical, varying music recitals, a visual arts exhibition, a student dance showcase and capacity-building workshops.
Loop News dissects a few of the events on the Edna calendar.
The School of Drama dancehall musical opens April 5 for a three-day run, breaks on April 7 and re-opens April 12 until 14, starting at 7 pm nightly.
The School of Visual Arts & Materials and Meanings exhibition opens on Tuesday, April 9 at 6 pm.
On April 5, there’s a viewing of the Owen Ellis-directed dancehall musical Buss Big, which crescendos with the ninth annual UNESCO International Jazz Day showcase.
The School of Music Week of Concerts dubbed Purple Reign, closes with an Honours Recital concert on Saturday, April 13 – which is a showcase of the top performing students for the 2023/2024 academic year.
The School of Continuing Education and Allied Programmes’ Literature on Stage workshop takes shape on Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17, then segues into a Saturday Intensive workshop on April 20.
‘Tis the Season continues with School of Dance – Danceworks under the theme ‘Luminosity’ which runs Thursday, April 18 to Sunday, April 21.
This is followed by the School of Arts Management and Humanities’ Ecojam environmental awareness day on Monday, April 22, and culminates with the institution’s jazz celebration concert — Jamrock Jazz at The Summit on Tuesday, April 30th.
Ergo, there are several art-fused activities and entertainment around Kingston for April.
Coleen Douglas, director of Marketing and Communications at EMCVPA expressed that the students and staff have always delivered high-quality education and entertainment, this season’s no exception.
This year’s theme promotes self-expression through the kaleidoscopic Jamaican/Caribbean culture, with the primary purpose of nurturing the love and passion for theatre and the visual and performing arts.
The overarching goal is to demonstrate that the arts are not only enjoyable but are therapeutic, and a viable professional path and source of long-term income.
“There’s a lot to experience, so we invite everyone to attend,” Douglas stated.
The opening event, Buss Big forges connections across communities, highlights our diverse Jamaican culture and celebrates the transformative work of Area Youth Foundation, a non-profit organisation, which has empowered Kingston’s youth since 1997.
