LaTonya Linton, Gleaner Writer
Awardees at the Institute of Jamaica National Exhibition for Art & Craft in schools awards ceremony held yesterday at the institute in downtown Kingston. From left are: Ottavia Baboram and Regina Portuondo of Ensom City Primary; Krystina Jones of Mona High School; Lamar Clarke and Keriesha Tynell of Seaforth High School. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE INSTITUTE of Jamaica yesterday held its annual awards ceremony for the National Exhibition for Art and Craft in school.
The National Exhibition targets students in all-age, primary and high schools across the island. The students are judged from various categories such as painting, drawing, graphics and sculpture.
Rev. Edward Jennings, deputy chairman of the Junior Centre Advisory Board, said one should value art as a tool of learning.
"This exercise has brought out significant skills and talent in our youngsters. Art is a vehicle for self-expression; it builds self-esteem, it fosters a sense of responsibility and through art children can learn about their full potential," said Jennings.
TWENTY PARTICIPANTS
Twenty schools participated in the competition this year, with Seaforth High School awarded the Institute of Jamaica trophy for the most outstanding school in the exhibition. Seaforth High was also awarded the Robert G.B. Verity Trophy for originality and creativity.
"I am very happy to know that my school has won the competition for the third time in a row, and this success is due to the efforts of the students, the teachers, our vice-principal who was always there with us, and our principal who is very supportive," said Dwight Dawkins, head of the Visual Arts Department at Seaforth High School.
Ensom City Primary School was awarded the Hugh A. Dawes Trophy for the most outstanding primary school in the exhibition. Marsha Heslop, arts teacher at Ensom City Primary, was very elated at the school's performance at the exhibition.
STUDENTS MOTIVATED
"We have been winning it (the competition) for a number of years and this year it is the first that we have been awarded cash, and the art department really needs it so it will be put to good use," said Heslop. She added that the students would become more motivated as a result of winning the exhibition.
Mona High School was awarded the Institute of Jamaica Shield, for most outstanding craftsmanship. Six schools were awarded cash prizes of $10,000 each, courtesy of the Chase Foundation. Four teachers were also awarded certificates for outstanding Visual Arts Instruction.
The National Exhibition for Art and Craft in schools is an annual exhibition that seeks to unearth the creative talents of Jamaican school children. The Programmes Coordination Division of the Institute of Jamaica organised the competition.
