The Jamaican Government has pledged to construct a state-of-the-art Reggae Hall of Fame Museum and Performance Arts Centre in the capital, Kingston.
Speaking at the opening of the 2022 International Reggae Poster Contest (IRPC) exhibition, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange expressed her commitment to fulfilling the vision of the initiative.
“I have heard the calls for a world-class reggae hall of fame and performance arts centre, and I assure you that the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is committed to fulfilling this vision,” Grange said in a statement read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe.
The IRPC, established in 2011, was the brainchild of late graphic designer Michael “Freestyle” Thompson and Greek counterpart Maria Papaefstathiou, who sought to establish a museum to honour the Alpha Boys’ School in Kingston.
The contest aims to raise funds for the institution, which has played a foundational role in the development of Jamaican popular music. Congratulating the winners of the 2022 contest, Grange praised Greek illustrator Vasilis Grivas, who took the top prize with a poster entitled ‘Nanny of the Maroons,’ for vividly demonstrating his love for Jamaican culture.
