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Message from the<br />
MINISTER OF<br />
CULTURE, GENDER,<br />
ENTERTAINMENT<br />
and SPORT<br />
The covid-19 pandemic has dealt a blow to industries<br />
worldwide and among the hardest hit are our cultural<br />
and creative practitioners. As many of them take to the<br />
virtual airwaves to maintain relevance and visibility to fans<br />
worldwide, the return of a Virtual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival<br />
is welcome.<br />
As Minister of Culture, I am pleased at the opportunities being provided<br />
our industry practitioners by the festival which has always been an<br />
important driver of Jamaica’s music, culture, entertainment and<br />
tourism.<br />
Despite the virtual format, the festival maintains its signature<br />
“small stage” tradition to unearth and showcase new Jamaican<br />
talent with a Band Quest Competition. The festival will also<br />
incorporate the popular art and craft marketplace with an<br />
Artisan Village featuring authentic Jamaican wooden items,<br />
jewellery and ceramics.<br />
Although Jamaica Jazz and Blues looks and feels a little<br />
different, being staged virtually for the first time, we<br />
anticipate a full face to face return in coming years. I<br />
commend foundation members of the team, Steady<br />
Image and Touchstone Productions, as they bring<br />
back the magic from March 4 - 6, <strong>2021</strong>, close on<br />
the heels of Reggae Month <strong>2021</strong> which wraps this<br />
February, spearheaded by my Ministry.<br />
The Government, through the Ministry<br />
of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and<br />
Sport; the Ministry of Local Government<br />
and Rural Development and the Ministry<br />
of Health and Wellness, with the input of<br />
industry stakeholders continues to work<br />
on protocols for the safe reopening of<br />
the wider entertainment sector.<br />
Congratulations to the organisers and<br />
partners on bringing back the festival. We<br />
look forward to the usual dynamism of local<br />
and international performances backed by<br />
the top class production for which the festival<br />
has become known.<br />
HON. OLIVIA GRANGE, CD, MP<br />
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