UTech Annual Report 2018-19

Accredited by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 University of Technology, Jamaica 92 providing professional performances by UTech, Jamaica Art and Theatre Ensemble, workshops geared towards students, staff and creative industries professionals, facility rental and guided tours of the Caribbean Sculpture Park. Visual and Performing Arts Programmes The Centre currently offers three electives: Introduction to Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts and Introduction to Music. The Centre for the Arts continues to enrich the university community with memorable performances from the various groups as part of our obligation to the university community as well as for their academic assessment within the disciplines. Students performed at over 24 university functions including an Evening of Musical Excellence: Down Memory Lane with Ernie Smith, the Distinguished Lecture on the Origins and Development of Jamaican Music presented by the late Edward Seaga, ON, and Caribbean Urban Forum Opening Ceremony. Students were also actively engaged in 9 productions produced by the Centre and the UTech, Jamaica Choir was able to participate in a choir retreat. Dance students, led by Mr. Kevin Moore, also contributed a Jonkanoo dance performance at the Christmas Jamaican style event hosted by the Student Services Registry and Counseling Unit in November 2018. Festival of the Arts and Cultural Showcase 2018 The Centre for the Arts in partnership with the Calvin Mckain Library hosted the 10th staging of the Festival Showcase, a significant event that celebrated and commemorated the 60th anniversary of University. The showcase consisted of the musical theatre production “Long Distance”, written and directed by Drama tutor, Gracia Thompson, and was held on November 21, 2018. The musical theatre production placed the University’s rise in the broad context of Jamaica emerging from being a British colony with the need to empower our country with our homegrown skilled workers and engineers, to the political upheaval and the rise of inner-city communities, to the new technological age. In this way, the production drew parallels between the goal of the country and that of the University. The event was attended by a large cross section of the University as well as external patrons and was a fitting culmination to the year. 60th Anniversary Exhibition On March 4, 2019, the 60th Anniversary Exhibition was launched. This featured depictions of the University’s journey from the College of Arts, Science and Technology (C.A.S.T) to the University of Technology, Jamaica. The exhibition was held in the Drawing Room and attracted a large contingent of the University community. Advancement Division Cont’d. UTech, Ja student dancer in performance at the 60th Anniversary Festival of the Arts and Cultural Showcase held at the Alfred Sangster auditorium.