Jamaica Cultural Enterprises - Blog

Explore the National Gallery of Jamaica with us

1/28/2020

Kapo in National Gallery of Jamaica

Contemplating Kapo's art at the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston

We hear this a lot : "I'm not really into art".

A visit to the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston will likely not convert a non art loving person into an art lover but, the way we do it, it will certainly illuminate a number of issues and moments in Jamaican history. On your tour of the National Gallery led by our knowledgeable guide, you will learn the social and historical context surrounding the art. We don't interpret the art for you, we provide you with the stories, important moments, and the history of the epoch in which the art was created.

This is, simply put, a fantastic way to understand Jamaica and a fun stop on a tour of Kingston. Plus, if you're an actual art lover, well, even better.

National Gallery of Jamaica entrance

Edna Manley's "The Lesson" in front of the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston

Tour Kingston, Jamaica with us

1/12/2020

KINGSTON CITY TOUR

KINGSTON CITY TOUR

No trip to Jamaica is complete without a trip to the capital, Kingston. The beauty of a vacation in Jamaica is that there is much variety that you may not necessarily get in other destinations. Yes, there are the beaches, but you also have music. Yes, you have the mountains, but you can also visit an art gallery. From drumming of the Maroons to dolphin watching (we recommend seeing them in the wild) to Dancehall street parties, you can find it all in Jamaica if you know where to look. To add to the variety of your trip, a visit to Kingston is a must.

On a tour of Kingston with us you will be able to learn about Jamaican history, feel the rhythm of the city (an infectious mix of reggae and dancehall), see Jamaicans in their natural element, not staged for tourists, and gain a deeper understanding of Jamaican history and culture. We offer a variety of options and ways to explore the city from music to art to heritage to walking and everything in between. We have been doing this for close to 10 years and have consistently great reviews because of our great value and knowledgeable guides.

Feel free to sign up on our booking pages or drop us a line at info@jaculture.com to ask for more information.

Cool Ocho Rios to Kingston Tours

3/28/2018

Here's how you get the best of both worlds: stay in Ocho Rios close to the beach but take one of our tours that departs from the North Coast and journeys into the heart of cultural Jamaica. On our tour you will eat great local food, have soul stirring conversations with Rastas, visit the internationally renowned Bob Marley Museum, admire the energy and vibrancy of Kingston street art, be taken care of by our knowledgeable and friendly tour guides, and more.

Stops include:
Bob Marley Museum
Downtown Kingston
Street mural art project
National Heroes Park

Group Tour Cost:
USD100 per adult (12+); USD60 for children 5 - 11; Free for children below the age of 5

Group Tour Inclusions:
All entry fees
Expert guide
Comfortable air conditioned transportation
Bottled water

Group Tour Exclusions:
Lunch

Private Tour Cost:
USD250 for a total of 4 participants. This cost includes expert guide, comfortable air conditioned transportation, and bottled water. It excludes entry fees.

Carry:
Camera
Money for souvenirs, lunch
Extra bottled water

To book or query email info@jaculture.com or khutchinson@jaculture.com

Walk the city with Jamaica Cultural Enterprises

2/7/2018

Our walking tours are baaaack.

If you have a desire to get into the heart of Kingston, why not come hang out with us? We aim to do a walking tour every Thursday and on the last Sunday of every month. On Thursdays we don't charge, you just pay for your own bus fare, entry fees, and lunch. Why is it free? It's a great training tool for our guides to hone their skills and we do accept tips.

From your perspective this is an excellent way to see the city up close, it's free, it's safe, it's fun.

For more information, click here.

Ward Theatre

8/29/2017

In 1997 I was very excited. Wole Soyinka, the great Nigerian playwright was coming to Jamaica and "The Beatification of Area Boy" was to be staged. I got a ticket and I went to Ward Theatre to see the play. It was a grand theatre, and even though I had what I now realise was a terrible seat (far away and high up), I was happy. I felt I was participating in something great in the best possible location. The Ward Theatre unfortunately since then has significantly deteriorated but this year the long talked about plan to refurbish the theatre was revived and actual work begun. This is a good thing for the city of Kingston as this building has been around for many important moments, both theatrical and non theatrical, in our history.

Certainly in terms of local theatre, the Ward has been an important location, and for decades hosted the annual Pantomime productions featuring the likes of Louise Bennett and Randolph Williams. Many travelling productions took place at Ward Theatre and Paul Robeson performed at the theatre in 1948. Our two major political parties were founded at the Ward Theatre. The theatre was also a place where Marcus Garvey spoke and staged productions. And on. What a pity the building has fallen so low but again how wonderful that there seems to be a commitment on the part of the parish council to revive it.

Even in its current condition it's an arresting building and tours which give more detail of the history can be scheduled. This theatre for many reasons, but primarily because it's been silent witness to Kingston's transformation, is on our list of recommended places to visit when you're in the city.

At 1:51, 2:47 in the YouTube video below is footage of the Ward Theatre (look behind the graceful dancers).

For more information email info@jaculture.com or call 1 876 540 8570 (whatsapp).

Dennis Brown, Crown Prince of Reggae

8/21/2017

The King of Reggae we all know to be Bob Marley. Who's the Prince of Reggae? That of course is Dennis Brown. If you think that's an overstatement listen to the YouTube video below. Seventy five (75) albums; work produced by the greats such as Clement Dodd, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Sly and Robbie; a Jamaican and international fan base that continues to this day. When he died in 1999 he had a massive funeral at which the then Prime Minister PJ Patterson spoke and praised his musical abilities. Reggae fans will want to visit the grave of Dennis Brown in Kingston to pay their respects and contemplate the rich music produced by this talented Jamaican. Jamaica Cultural Enterprises (JCE) can help you to plan this trip. No problem.

To learn more about our music tours check out our page.
To learn more about our city tours check this page.
For more information email info@jaculture.com or call 1 876 540 8570 (whatsapp).

National Gallery, a Must Visit

8/18/2017

If you know anything about Jamaica Cultural Enterprises (JCE) you know that we are excited by Jamaican culture and equally excited to transfer our knowledge of Jamaican culture to our guests. Jamaica is famous for music of course, but one of the areas where we don't get high enough ratings is for our art. Jamaicans produce amazing art. For us at JCE art isn't necessarily a very lofty, high brow experience where you stand in front of a black dot on a white canvas (or a white dot on a black canvas) and try and figure out it's meaning. Art is expression and comes in various accessible forms. Even if you're not an art enthusiast, to experience Jamaican art is to get a sense of the concerns of Jamaican people. THE place in Jamaica to experience Jamaican art is the National Gallery of Jamaica.

In the Gallery you have very traditional, representational paintings but you also have other things: sculptures, photographs, works done by untrained artists, textiles, and new media. What you see depends on what exhibition is currently on offer. There is also their Last Sundays programme where on the last Sunday of each month they open up for free tours, discussions, and performances. We incorporate Last Sundays into our Sunday walking tour. The Gallery is indoors but has a spacious, organised feeling. It is located near the Kingston Waterfront and with the sea close by, a visit is a win for so many reasons.

We encourage you to come explore Jamaican art and the National Gallery with us. You can check out our art tours here. To contact us to arrange a trip to the National Gallery email info@jaculture.com or call 1 876 540 8570 (whatsapp).

Garvey's 130th Birthday

8/17/2017

Marcus Garvey, who would eventually emerge as a larger than life motivating figure to millions of persons of African descent, was born on this day, August 17 in 1887. He was born in the rural Jamaican town of St. Ann's Bay and visitors to our nation can make a visit to the house where he grew up. That parish wouldn't keep him for too long as Garvey travelled the world setting up chapters of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), an organisation whose aim was to help liberate persons of African descent from their situations of racist and colonial oppression. His radical views of supporting the businesses and political growth of black people and other oppressed groups across the globe made him a controversial figure. There is for example a strong sense of separatism in his message due in large part to his inability to envision in the 1920s a world where black people could thrive under the racist governments which existed across the globe. He has also been incorrectly cast as a back to Africa agitator where the reality is that, while he viewed Africa as the natural ancestral home for persons of colour, he was not interested or believed possible a whole scale migration of black people to the continent. He was brought up on bogus charges of mail fraud in the United States and jailed in 1925. In Jamaica he was also jailed in 1929. These things are to be expected when one is fighting with ardour against oppressive regimes. Garvey had an impact not just in Jamaica but in the United States and on the continent of Africa. Here in Jamaica we have honoured him by declaring him a national hero.

As is customary the Liberty Hall, a museum dedicated to the life and work of Marcus Garvey located downtown Kingston, will have a lecture and various activities to mark the day. This year the title is "Garvey as Literary Muse" to be delivered by author Geoffrey Philp.

To learn more about this influential man we can help you plan your visit to National Heroes Park where Garvey is buried and to Liberty Hall. Contact us at info@jaculture.com or call 1 876 540 8570 (whatsapp) for more information.

Life Yard: farming, art, passion

8/14/2017

If you're coming to Jamaica you have to visit Kingston. It's the capital, it's vibrating with music, art, food, and all kinds of cultural expression. If you're coming to Kingston you have to visit Life Yard. This co-operative of young rasta men has its base in a community nicknamed South Side and here the men run an organic farm, a vegetarian kitchen, community projects aimed primarily at neighbourhood children, and conduct tours of their streets. The big draw is the mural project done by Paint Jamaica which draws on the talents of local as well as international artists. The location is an oasis, the men are articulate and passionate, and the art is soul stirring.

Man, you just have to see it for yourself.

To find out more about our tours that visit Life Yard email info@jaculture.com or call 1 876 540 8570 (whatsapp).

Kingston Gets a Boost

5/4/2017

On Saturday, April 29, Jamaica Cultural Enterprises participated in familiarization tour put on by the Jamaica Tourist Board. The objective of the leg in which we participated was to show off Kingston. The JTB made the interesting and bold decision to take the group of 12 agents from North America to Downtown Kingston and specifically to Fleet Street. Needless to say their minds were blown.

We were met on Fleet Street by Shane and Sabukie, representatives of Life Yard. Life Yard is a social enterprise which provides community tours of Parade Gardens, specifically of the impressive vibrant murals constructed by Paint Jamaica and also of their organic farm. These well spoken Rasta men also organize community events and raise funds for projects which impact on the neighbourhood’s children. The energy as usual was excellent, even though the gentlemen were tired from having staged a cultural show the night before. The multi coloured, approx 10 foot high items of vivid street art did what they never fail to do: astound and impress. The empowering messages, the at times whimsical images, the heavy symbolism and awareness of history transform the walls of the community and provide, at least for the visitor and hopefully for the residents too, a source of hope.

The visit to Life Yard was framed by a drive through green National Heroes Park, a pass by the then calm waters of the Kingston Harbour, and a visit to the lovely grounds of Devon House to take in ice cream, history, and art. In the JCE message to the travel agents we delivered the idea that Kingston, as well connected as it is, is a necessary and easy stop to include on a vacation to the island, a way of incorporating a cultural experience in a beach vacation. Travellers these days wish for culture, experiences, transformation. These are the things you get in Kingston.

Our trip ended with a fierce patty debate which I don't think I won but more on that later on. I am pleased that increasingly the Government of Jamaica is recognising the potential of Kingston. We've been running Kingston tours now for years and not only do we love it but it is a destination that we understand very well. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors who are interested in what the city has to offer and in our brand of cultural tourism.

One love.