Members of Falmouth Artisan Village’s entertainment cast strut their stuff during Thursday’s launch of the Tourism Entertainment Academy. (Photo: Horace Hines)
Earn respect and success
‘Babsy’ urges creatives to join formal economy, tap into greater opportunities
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange is urging members of the entertainment fraternity to formalise their status in order to unlock greater opportunities and achieve long-term success.
Speaking in Falmouth during Thursday’s launch of the $50-million Tourism Entertainment Academy (TEA), she emphasised the need for structure within the industry.
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“For far too long, many practitioners in the entertainment industry have operated informally — highly talented, deeply passionate, but often without the structure, security, or recognition that other professionals enjoy. That must change,” she insisted.
She highlighted the benefits of being a part of the formal system.
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“Formalisation is not just about paperwork or regulations; it’s about respect, stability, and long-term success. When entertainers, performers, and creatives are formally recognised within the industry, they gain access to better opportunities, fair wages, legal protection, and professional development that allow them to build sustainable careers,” said Grange.
She noted that the absence of proper structures leaves many artistes, musicians, and singers working without contracts or benefits, putting their long-term sustainability at risk. According to the minister, establishing industry standards, structured training, and certification will empower entertainment practitioners, opening doors to international markets and strengthening the creative economy.
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“Without the proper structure, too many singers, musicians, and artistes work without contracts, without benefits, without the assurance that their skills will be valued in the long run. But when we create systems that recognise entertainment as a legitimate profession — when we provide structured training, certification, and develop industry standards — we begin to empower practitioners to take control of their futures. We open doors to international markets, create clear career pathways, and strengthen the entire creative economy,” Grange explained.
She underscored that a registry was established to provide government benefits for creatives.
“Formally known as the Entertainment Registry, the E Registry — managed by my ministry — is the main medium through which government benefits are administered to creative practitioners. Registering on this database must therefore be the priority of every entertainment and cultural practitioner in Jamaica and the tourism industry,” Grange urged.
“I cannot stress this enough: If you are a musician, a dancer, a comedian, a producer, a technician, you need to sign up! The Entertainment Registry is a tool that will connect you to opportunities in the tourism sector, make it easier to secure work permits, and ensure that policies affecting your industry are shaped by real data,” the minister said.
She also invited tourism stakeholders to take advantage of the registry.
“Sign up, get involved, and let’s build an industry that truly reflects the excellence of Jamaican culture. To our tourism stakeholders: The registry is available to provide data support on the types of available entertainment skills in your parish and in your communities. Together, with training, collaboration, and commitment, we can ensure that Jamaica is not only celebrated for its culture but also for the professionalism and world-class talent of its entertainment sector,” she said.
