Established in 1963, the JCDC was originally known as the Festival Office of Jamaica. In 1968 it evolved into the Festival Commission a burgeoning force for cultural development on behalf of the government.

 

The Act of Parliament in September, Act 32 of 1968, broadened its mandate to encourage the annual Independence Anniversary Celebrations throughout the island, as well as to stimulate the development of local talents. In May of 1980, the Commission’s mandate was extended by another Act of Parliament (Act No. 8 of 1980), and with this, its name was changed to the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. 1980 represented a paradigm shift in the agency’s functions and responsibilities.

 

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) began in 1963 as the Festival Office, with a mandate to develop and promote the creative talents and cultural expressions of the Jamaican people. Its function is also to ensure that the nation’s cultural heritage is preserved and sustained for the benefit of future generations. It also organizes the annual Independence celebrations and other events of national significance.

 

In the years since its inception, thousands of Jamaicans have benefited from its programmes in dance, traditional folk forms, speech and drama, music, culinary arts, fine arts, photography and literary arts. The Commission has been able to expose and nurture the talents of renowned practitioners such as Professor Mervyn Morris, Kapo, Barrington Watson, Lennie Little-White, Stephen Cat" Coore, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Fae Ellington, Steven Woodham and Susan Alexander.

 

The Commission fulfills its mandate primarily through its annual Festival of the Arts, with parish and national competitions in the performing arts, literary arts, fine arts and culinary arts.