MAJOR plans are being developed for the transformation of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, the only institution of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, into a regional institution in the coming years.

Interim principal of the college Dorrett Campbell alluded to the transformation ahead as she addressed the college’s graduation ceremony last Saturday, noting that the plans are in keeping with the institution’s 45th anniversary theme ‘Rising and Responding’.

Campbell shared that, despite the challenges, the college is steadily rising and responding to the needs of the marketplace as it prepares to strengthen its local, regional, and global position.

With this in mind Campbell announced that the Edna Manley College has completed the first iteration of its long-awaited strategic plan titled Re-imagine 2027.

“Crafted on eight strategic pillars, cascading from the standard set by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) and the Jamaica Tertiary Commission, our strategic goal is the formalise our university college status by 2025 and be recognised as a regional institution with all Caricom member states contributing by 2027. The plan also reaffirms our commitment to partnering with local, regional, and international organisations in the interest of developing the arts for social transformation and regional development,” said Campbell.

Campbell commended the Class of 2022, noting that their decision to pursue a career in the arts, instead of the perceived more viable careers, underscores a desire to appeal to a higher calling, build community, and transform society.

“Our graduates, God bless their valiant, resilient, artistic souls rose to the occasion and stayed the course, and I am pleased to report that of a cohort of just over a hundred, 93 per cent were ratified, 74 per cent now form the graduation class, and 70 per cent of this graduating class have earned honours and credit degrees,” Campbell said.

She further challenged the graduates to build relationships that transcend narrow, selfish interests; be concerned about their social interaction, the crass, crude, and lewd behaviours in society; and use their art to do something about it while pursuing a cause more important than self-service.

The pandemic struck at the end of the second year of the students who pursued the four-year bachelor’s degree programme, and at the beginning for those who pursued the two-year associate degree, causing them to shift to virtual and later hybrid modes of content delivery.

“Like every other educational institution grappling with the global health phenomenon, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts experienced at 20 per cent drop in its usual enrolment for the 2021-2022 academic year. Three of our schools were more impacted than others because they are contact disciplines. Nevertheless, we were commended by the UCJ for how readily and resiliently we transitioned seamlessly from brick wall to full virtual to a blended teaching and learning environment,” Campbell said.

In bringing greetings, Education and Youth Minister Fayval Williams reminded the Class of 2022 that their hard work does not end with the completion of their course of study at the college. She noted that it may just be the start of that trajectory and, therefore, encouraged the graduates to look around for other training opportunities to add to their skill set, given that the world of work is changing rapidly and, therefore, they must be prepared.

“I want to leave you with three things that I want you to do. Number one is to embrace courses in personal finance in order to help you manage well the fortunes that you are about to make. Number two is become knowledgeable about how to protect your intellectual property or someone else will make a lot of money from your hard work. The third thing is to explore technology. The metaverse is a new market with mass potential, and this is just one area that you must explore,” said Williams.

The ceremony saw colour, drama, movement, and culture on full display as the arts were beautifully woven into the fabric of the graduation exercise.

Guest speaker for the event executive director and group chief culture and human development officer at JMMB Donna Duncan-Scott used the graduation’s theme ‘Visual(eyes) Art Actualize Excellence’ to encourage the graduates to actualise their art and excellence through the eyes of love.

“You are here at this time for a special reason. You are graduating at this time in our history because you have what it takes to make the difference, so I encourage you to visualise art through the eyes of love to create your art and bring forth excellence,” she shared.

For valedictorian, School of Dance graduate Kai Wiggan, her task was to encourage her colleagues to be the best, never letting fear hold them back from their full potential.

“Although a lot of us will be unsure of what the next step will be, know that it will come. Be present in the moment and never stop believing in and praying for what you are hoping for. Opportunities are there in your way, but you have to seize them. No one can snatch them away. It you your duty, however, to take action. Apply for that job that you didn’t think you’d be able to get or that master’s that you have been looking at for months, start that business you’ve always wanted. Never let fear get the better of you. Be scared and uncertain, but do it anyway, please,” Wiggan noted.