Minister of Tradition, Gender, Leisure and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, is encouraging younger and aspiring creatives to prioritise the enterprise side of the trade and never neglect it.
She made the attraction whereas talking to tons of of high-school and tertiary college students in the course of the fourth Jamaica Inventive Profession Expo at The Jamaica Pegasus resort in New Kingston on Tuesday (February 25).
Ms. Grange famous that in earlier years, Jamaica’s cultural practitioners, together with famous pioneering artistes, nurtured their craft whereas paying scant regard to the vital enterprise factor.
She defined that in some cases, these people have discovered themselves penniless with out the required funds to cowl their medical and different wants.
Ms. Grange mentioned it is for that reason that the Authorities launched the Jamaica Entertainers and Creatives Insurance coverage Plan in November 2024.
In the identical vein, the Minister emphasised that inventive practitioners should study the enterprise of the trade and guarantee they defend their earnings.
“It’s not solely about writing lyrics, singing, dancing, portray, and doing all the good stuff you wish to do. At all times keep in mind, the enterprise of the inventive sector is vital.
“So, it’s essential to perceive the enterprise, study the enterprise, and ensure that out of your creativity, you might be securing your future. [This] by making certain that you simply register your songs that you simply write, and that in all the opposite stuff you do, you might be incomes and you might be saving out of your earnings to safe your future,” Ms Grange acknowledged.
The Minister identified that the inventive trade has the potential to develop Jamaica’s economic system and generate jobs.
Consequently, Ms. Grange mentioned the goal of the Expo was to encourage college students to change into part of the inventive economic system by making them extra educated in regards to the varied inventive profession potentialities.
“We hope that this conjures up rising creatives, such as you [students], to change into the subsequent finest exponent of your craft,” she advised the members.
The Expo was held below the theme ‘Exploring the Digital House’ and targeted on inventive enterprises and alternatives within the digital surroundings.
Areas lined included Animation, Synthetic Intelligence (AI), Content material Creation, Gaming, Robotics and Animatronics.
Creatives from Jamaica and the diaspora who’ve excelled within the digital area imparted data to the younger members via panel discussions that provided them the chance to ask pertinent questions.
College students additionally had entry to sales space shows highlighting varied careers within the digital area.
Among the many interactive shows was one by the HEART/NSTA Belief that highlighted careers in Net Improvement and Cell Utility Creation.
The occasion was conceptualised and executed by the Ministry’s Jamaica Leisure, Tradition and Inventive Industries Council (JECCIC), popularly often called Jamaica Inventive.
