Ardenne High secures 13th hold on the JCDC Marcus Garvey Award for the Performing Arts

BY RUSHANE FERRON

Ardenne High School has been named the 2024 winner of the JCDC Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts. This marks the Kingston-based institution’s thirteenth time receiving the prestigious award, presented by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) to recognize the outstanding achievement in the National Festival of the Performing Arts competitions held earlier this year.

In addition to claiming the top honour, Ardenne High solidified its reputation as a leading force in the performing arts, earning twelve awards across the speech, drama, and music categories.

Commenting on the school’s success at the awards ceremony, held at the Little Theatre in St. Andrew, Gracia Thompson, co-curricular coordinator, expressed pride in Ardenne’s ongoing participation in the National Festival of the Arts. She highlighted the unique opportunity the festival provides for students, noting that such an event is rare in many other countries.

“We are proud but humbled. The students have worked extremely hard, and we know that we were up against some great competition. What the JCDC does in unearthing and developing the creative talent of the Jamaican people is a remarkable thing and something that we are proud to participate in. In a sense we are a product of that mission,” said Thompson.

She added that even the mere act of participating in the various competitions gives students a boost and helps to build Ardenne’s reputation and standing as a performing arts high school. “Winning was the icing on the cake for us all – teachers and students alike.”

“The students, based on the kind of work they must put in with rehearsals starting almost simultaneously with the start of the school year in September, and stretching all the way to the end of the festival season in May, they feel a great sense of reward from earning this title year after year. It comes down to dedication,’ said Thompson.

Executive Director of the JCDC Lenford Salmon highlighted the importance of the work of the Commission noting the transformative role the arts play in the development of students.

“The arts as a development of human capital are unquestionable. I have seen it at work. I see students who show little, or no interest in school, are convinced to get involved with the arts, and are literally transformed. The teachers would encourage them to get involved in the performing arts clubs and societies on campus, with a condition that in order to be involved they must attend classes. All of a sudden that student does not miss a day of school. I have seen it transform children in amazing ways,” said Salmon.

The JCDC Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts was introduced in 1994 and is presented to the school or group that accumulates the most points based on their performance at the national finals of the annual Festival of the Performing Arts. The event also recognizes the exceptional work of teachers and tutors who prepare participants for the festival.

Additionally, the JCDC announced that entries for all 2025 competitions will open on Monday, November 4^th, 2024, and close on Friday, December 13^th, 2024, inviting schools and community groups to participate.