EDITORIAL
on what the world would be like without the arts. Imagine living without music, poetry, books, painting, photographs, and the list goes on. I cannot imagine my life without art and I dare say you can’t either. I, therefore urge all of you to reflect on the importance of the arts to society and consider what role you play or will play in ensuring that arts are kept alive in our nation. The EMCVPA takes pride in remaining at the forefront of nurturing the arts in the Caribbean through our varied programmes.
Despite this pride of place, however, Photograph by Mark Samuels we have our challenges. In a fledgling economy, it has become s we approach the festive more difficult for students to pay season, which comes with fees, parents are still discouraging the usual fireworks, food children from pursuing a career and parties, I have been reflecting in the arts and public and private
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he Arts Management programme at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts provides students with opportunities to engage in practical training as they learn the theoretical structures supporting this area of study. As part of the BA in Arts Management
sector support is minimal. In spite of these challenges, however, we continue to produce excellent graduates who are prepared for the world stage. So as you enjoy the festive season and enjoy all the art in life, please remember to consciously support the arts and continue to support the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. Do enjoy our November/December issue as we celebrate the Rex Nettleford Arts Conference and Graduation as well.
Happy Holidays from all of us at EMCVPA
One love Coleen Douglas Marketing/Public Relations Manager, EMCVPA
at the EMCVPA students are given the opportunity to manage a student run, faculty supervised Arts Management company - “1 Creative Yaad”.
organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, The Philip Sherlock Centre’s 5th annual Dance Umbrella Festival and Danceworks’ 2013 season of dance.
According to Simone Harris, Lecturer in the School of Arts Management and Humanities who conceptualized 1 Creative Yaad, “the students love it…this is the going to become the heartbeat of the Arts Management programme! They get a chance to work closely with industry professionals, expand their network, engage in practical training, seminars, demonstrations, and take on clients which helps them to develop the skills to succeed in today’s complex arts environment”.
The aim is to equip students with additional training and enhanced practical experience in areas such as media and event production, marketing, and project management. This will provide them with a competitive advantage at the end of their programme.
1 Creative Yaad began in January 2013 and has worked on a number of projects to date, including the “Arts in the Park” music series,
The 1 Creative Yaad team selects a specific number of projects (on and off campus) each school year and meet once per week to organize and execute plans. The team works with their clients to research, plan, analyse, and execute strategies that will ensure the effective outcome of the project (regardless of budget).
From the Principal’s Desk active alumni and for this, I wish to thank and congratulate them for their continued service to the College community.
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our weeks ago Saturday, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, in another grand production congratulated 95 visual and performing artists(es) who had set personal goals, achieved them and were now on their way to sharing their enormous talent beyond the studios of the EMCVPA. While preparing for this graduation in particular, I reflected on my own graduation from the Jamaica School of Dance, Cultural Training Centre in 1987 and on how so many things have remained the same and how some have changed. Throughout the years and evolution of the institution, the talent, impact and pride of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing
Arts graduate has been unwavering. Whether we have good or bad memories, the endurance of an education that is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding creates a strong sense of identity, cultural sensibility and pride. Also unwavering is the EMCVPA graduate’s sense of service to humanity, community and the institution. We do believe that our art can heal, communicate, educate, change, serve and, yes entertain, like no other profession can. And so our graduates are in schools, community and church-based and non-profit organisations, health service institutions, government and developmental agencies and whereever else their impact can be felt. Our graduates are also here with us at the EMCVPA as senior administrators, faculty, staff and
One of the major developments in the College community, and even more so recently, is the College’s active involvement and participation in inter-collegiate sports. This is a major achievement and milestone for the College as the involvement of our students in inter-collegiate sports enhances our mission and vision to nurture wellrounded students and graduates. It also represents an undertaking by students, whose work, by the nature of their art, is already physicallydemanding and time-consuming, to continue to serve and represent the College at a semi-professional level. A big thank you to the members of the football and netball teams, and especially to the basketball team, who came second in their league for the 2012-2013 season. Thank you too, to the Student Services Department, which has really rallied and developed our sportsmen and women. As we continue to develop the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, on behalf of the College administration and our clients, the students, thank you for your continued service to the institution. If you wish to reach me to share in how you may help to expand the College’s mission or vision in any way, please email me at principal@emc.edu.jm or call 876-920-4051. Sincerely, Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson , Principal, EMCVPA
GRADUATION 2013 INSPIRES From inspiring to soul stirring performances.
From heart wrenching tearjerkers to a foot stomping guest speaker … EMCVPA Graduation 2013 was a world class production and our graduates were sent off in fabulous EMCVPA style….Tertiary Education Commissioner, Maxine Henry Wilson, expressed it in superlatives “a most enjoyable evening showcasing the incredible talent of our students while satisfying the requirements of the graduation ceremony. It transmitted the growth and development that has taken place in the institution and its effective positioning as a first class performing and visual arts college.” Enjoy some images of our recent graduation.
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(a) Unritung of Spring, (excerpt 1) Choreography by Oniel Pryce, School of Dance students, (b) Guest Speaker Johnnetta B. Cole, PhD, (c) Valedictorian 2013, Marcia Jeffers, and Chairman, Mr. Paul Issa (d),(e) and (g) Students of EMCVPA, during Graduation production, (f) Mrs. Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson, Principal , (h) Mother of Valedictorian waves St. Kitts and Nevis flag ecstatically (i) Graduates of 2013 . Photography by Yannick Reid
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GREAT REVIEWS FOR SCHOOL OF DRAMA’S DESDEMONA ..All the world’s stage and all men and women merely players….
Shakespeare’s classic tragedyOthello, the Moor of Venice. It was also very satisfying for the adult patrons who commented on how well the students captured the flavor of seventeen century Cyprus. The Gleaner also celebrated the players in the play ,“Melson directed her young cast well. Her willingness to use the levels provided by Ron Seger’s thought-provoking set was great. Lee held her audience captive as she portrayed the innocence, playfulness and fear of Desdemona. She was consistent in every aspect of her characterization. So, too, it was for Simms, who played the feisty, frank and street-smart Bianca.”
The second staging of Desdemona at the Dennis Scott Studio Theatre was highly appreciated by students of Campion College, St. Andrew High, Herbert Morrison Technical High, Merl Grove High and Tarrant High School who were invited based on the fact that they are currently studying Shakespeare’s Othello for Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination. Directed by member of faculty Dr. Kelli Melson, Paula Vogel’s play Desdemona: A Play About A Handkerchief, presented a postmodern, renaissance flavoured feminist deconstruction of
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Certainly, the quality of production is a testimony to the world class training the School of Drama offers.
Henna Thrends with alumni Mark Samuels
Mark Samuels graduated from the EMCVPA, School of Visual Arts in 2011 with a major in Painting. He has always had an interest in Indian culture and uses the art to pay tribute to his friend that he lost tragically in 2011. He used henna as a motif on a
piece of ply and the rest is history. He has been using henna to decorate candles and bodies since. Henna is, actually, a plant that grows in hot, dry climates. The leaves of the plant produce a natural dye which can be derived by drying out the leaves and
grounding them into a powder. The powder is used to make the paste which is applied to the skin. Henna is not a tattoo, it is temporary and fades after a week. Henna design and photography by Mark Samuels Head Model Coleen Douglas
Rex Nettleford Arts Conference 2013 The second staging of the Rex Nettleford Arts Conference was a blast! a Just in case you missed see please enjoy our spread.
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k (a), (d) and (h) Opening Ceremony performances from students and staff from the Schools of Dance and Music, ( c ) Mrs. Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson, Principal at Opening Ceremony, (b) Carol Hamilton, VP, Academics and Technical Studie and Conference Co Chair at Opening Ceremony. (e)The Closing Ceremony, Joanna Simpson, L’Acadco: A United Caribbean Dance Force, (f) Dr. The Honourable Peter Philips, M.P., keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony poses with Coleen Douglas, Marketing Manager of EMCVPA,
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l (g) Shem Heliodore, student at School of Dance does fire dance, (l) Neila Ebanks, Lecturer at School of Dance, performs Duration Dance, (i)Dr. Kelli Melson, lecturer, School of Drama (j) Miss Amina Blackwood Meeks (k) Photo from session at the National Art Gallery, (m) Photo from session at Cag[e] Gallery, exhibiting “That Ship has Sailed�, Photography By Mark Samuels
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Compañia Periferia in Jamaica The School of Dance swung open it’s doors on November 17, 2013 to welcome Compañia Periferia from Colombia with the kind support and endorsement of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) and the Colombian Embassy. Chief coordinator of the company’s presence in Jamaica was Marlon Simms, Assistant Director of the School of Dance, who formed cultural and artistic ties with the company’s Artistic Director, Lobadys Perez, at the Caribbean Culture Market held in Colombia in December 2012. The touring Company, which consisted of six dancers and one singer, conducted workshops, master classes and a
lecture demonstration which were open to the College and the wider artistic community. Their presence ended with the presentation of a master work “Eternity and a Day” choreographed by Perez. The work included School of Dance Director, Kerry-Ann Henry, faculty member Neisha-yen Jones, year two students from the School of Music, Michael Allen and Lauren Smith. Other works on the show were Tamara Thomas’ duet, “Critical Love” with School of Dance graduate Paul Newman and “Urban Fissure” choreographed for the NDTC by School of Dance alumni, Chris Walker.
Choose life Choose the arts Choose EMCVPA APPLICATIONS OPEN Thursday, January 2, 2014
On Sale! EMCVPA T-shirts
SPECIAL OFFER OF $1200
Mugs
$900
JONKONNU ARTS JOURNAL $2500
2013 - 2014 Calendar of Events September
December
Thursday, September 19, 2013 School of Arts Management and Humanities: Writing Seminar [Week 1]
Sunday, December 1, 2013 Carol Service
April
Thursday, September 26, 2013 School of Arts Management and Humanities: Writing Seminar [Week 2]
January
Tuesday, April 1 – Sunday, April 6, 2014 DanceWorks 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014 School of Arts Management and Humanities: Janubond
Thursday, April 3, 2014 School of Arts Management and Humanities: Conundrum Quiz Competition
February
Friday, April 4 – Sunday, April 13, 2014 School of Drama: Drama Production IV [Children’s Theatre Workshop]
Friday, September 27, 2013 School of Arts Management and Humanities: Drug Awareness Day
October Tuesday, October 1, 2013 SVA Student Exhibition Wednesday, October 16 – Friday, October 18, 2013 Rex Nettleford Arts Conference Thursday, October 17, 2013 Environment Day Friday, October 18 – Sunday, October 27, 2013 [Weekends Only] School of Drama: Drama Production DOUBLE FEATURE: Crave (written by Sarah Kane) & God’s Door (written by Russell Watson) Tuesday, October 29, 2013 Student Services: Financial Aid Information Fair
November Sunday, November 3, 2013 School of Music: Faculty Recital Wednesday, November 6, 2013 School of Arts Management and Humanities: Education Lecture Friday, November 8 – Sunday, November 17, 2013 [Weekends Only] School of Drama: Drama Production Desdemona: A Play About A Handkerchief (written by Paula Vogel) Saturday, November 16, 2013 Graduation Ceremony 2013
Thursday, February 6, 2014 Student’s Career Workshop
Thursday, March 20, 2014 EMCVPA Open Day
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 EMCVPA Choir in Concert
Thursday, February 13, 2014 School of Arts Management and Humanities: Historical Exhibition
Thursday, April 10, 2014 School of Music: Wind Ensemble Concert
Thursday, February 20, 2014 School of Dance: Colour Museum Student’s Career Fair
Saturday, April 12, 2014 School of Music: Honours Recital School of Arts Management and Humanities: Fusion
Friday, February 21, 2014 Sports Day February 11- March 9, 2014 EMCVPA Celebrates Nelson Mandela
Friday, April 25, 2014 EMCVPA Wellness Fair
May
March
Thursday, May 1, 2014 Spanish Day
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 School of Visual Arts: Faculty Exhibition (Opening Ceremony)
Saturday, May 3, 2014 Water The Roots (Concert)
Thursday, March 6, 2014 Textiles & Fibre Arts Department: Alternative Fashion Show
Sunday, May 11 – Wednesday, May 21, 2014 School of Music: Third and Final Years Concert Series
Friday, March 7, 2014 Celebrating Research in the Arts Sunday, March 9, 2014 Thanksgiving Service Friday, March 14 – Sunday, March 23, 2014 [Weekends Only] School of Drama: Drama Production III
Weekly Events
June Saturday, June 7, 2014 School of Visual Arts: Final Year Exhibition (Opening Ceremony) Wednesday, June 11, 2014 EMCVPA Corporate Evening
School of Music: Lunch Hour Concert Series Thursday’s @ 12:00 noon – 1:15 PM
SVA Film Series Friday’s @ 6:00 PM
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