KINGSTON, Jamaica-Friday 2 July 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]
(BUSINESS
WIRE)-- Jamaica’s creative sector has received a major boost through a
partnership between global entertainment marketing agency, The SMC
Group, and The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts
(EMCVPA). This arrangement aims to foster the development of Jamaican
talent and the island’s Creative Industries.
The venture will
begin with an investment into the development of a music production
studio to support local song writers, producers, and artistes. SMC also
intends to recruit EMCVPA students for apprenticeships and job
placements. This ground-breaking initiative will enhance the music and
audio production, animation, as well as dance specialisations at the
College.
The partnership is the latest positive development in
the island’s creative industries which have seen considerable growth in
recent years.
In the film industry, more than 4000 film-related
jobs have been created in the last three years while approximately 150
foreign productions are facilitated per year. Over 3 billion JMD in
film production expenditure was contributed to GDP in the last two
years, and approximately 65-70 percent of crews hired on most
international film productions in Jamaica are local.
The country
also has a growing animation industry with 15 local studios having
participated in government-led programmes to increase their
profitability and sustainability.
CEO of The SMC Group, Maurice
Hamilton, revealed that the collaboration between the group and EMCVPA
will add to the progress that has already been made in the creative
industries by expanding investment into the areas of talent and content
in the music and audio-visual sectors.
“This is the first step of
an exciting initiative to establish Jamaica and then the wider
Caribbean region as a creative hub that will develop creative and
business professionals as well as content,” the CEO remarked. “And for
SMC, it creates a solid, efficient pipeline of creative talent to
service our global clients.”
The CEO also disclosed that SMC
intends to build a centre of excellence in Jamaica and will be engaging
in additional investments and local partnerships.
“We want to
ensure that our commitment to Jamaican talent is substantive,” he
insisted. “Through greater education, funding, and through our network
within the global marketplace we can provide a platform from which
Jamaican talent can flourish internationally.”
The island has
seen several ventures over the years led by the private sector, public
sector or both, which seek to advance the creative industry. Programmes
such as the Business of Sustainability for Studios (BOSS) programme,
JAFTA Propella film development programme, and the Film Lab initiative
help entrepreneurs grow their animation and film production studios, and
increase content development.
In the spirit of these
collaborations between industry stakeholders, Diane Edwards, President
of Jamaica’s investment and export promotions agency, JAMPRO, welcomed
the cooperation between SMC and EMCVPA.
“At JAMPRO, we believe
that partnership is essential to building local industries and to
creating valuable opportunities for Jamaica’s people, so we are pleased
to see this agreement between SMC and Edna Manley College,” she said.
EMCVPA’s
Vice Principal of Administration and Resource Development, Ms. Kerry
Ann Henry, shared her enthusiasm for the partnership and explained that
its objectives were in keeping with the college’s mission. She stated,
“This is a partnership that will not just strengthen our respective
organizations, it will be of enormous benefit to the country in fields
related to the visual and performing arts.”
About The SMC Group
The
SMC Group operates in 17 markets across the globe and has worked on
campaigns for brands like The Coca-Cola Company, Net-A-Porter, Unilever,
Diageo, Cartier and a host of globally recognizable names. Their
projects have also involved celebrities like Jamaican Olympian Usain
Bolt, Korean pop band BTS, Colombian superstar Maluma and American
celebrities such as Kevin Hart, Jason Derulo and Kanye West.
ABOUT JAMPRO
The
Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)’s mission is to drive economic
development through growth in investment and export. JAMPRO is an Agency
of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce.
For more information on JAMPRO, please visit https://dobusinessjamaica.com/.
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210630005271/en/
Contacts
Integrated Marketing Communications
Tamica Parchment
tparchment@jamprocorp.com
Tele: 876-978-7755
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