KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s pioneering Tourism Entertainment Academy (TEA) has advanced its inaugural cohort into the crucial live performance phase of its comprehensive training program. This strategic initiative, spearheaded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) in collaboration with the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, represents a significant investment in professionalizing the island’s entertainment sector.
Eighteen talented participants specializing across three distinct disciplines—jazz, reggae, and comedy—are now gaining invaluable practical experience through scheduled public performances. According to Dr. Carey Wallace, Executive Director of TEF, this phase provides essential exposure opportunities following intensive training and coaching sessions. “We are actually right at that stage where, having done the training and coaching and so on, we’re providing them the exposure, the opportunity to have performances,” Dr. Wallace confirmed in a recent interview with JIS News.
The program’s practical component has already seen comedy and reggae performers showcase their talents at established venues including the Johnny Live Comedy Bar Show and the Wickie Wackie Music Festival last month. The performance series will culminate in a final showcase scheduled for March 22 in Montego Bay, a major tourism hub.
This live performance stage serves a dual purpose: allowing participants to demonstrate their honed skills while undergoing formal assessment by industry experts. These evaluations contribute toward a ‘stackable credential’ system that will certify participants upon successful program completion. The academy further supports career development through targeted social media promotion and direct connections with tourism industry stakeholders seeking certified entertainers.
Launched in July 2025 as a micro-credential program, the curriculum encompasses critical areas including cultural authenticity, performance artistry, and professional standards for entertainers. Participants have benefited from instruction by Jamaica’s most accomplished coaches through the Edna Manley College partnership. “These are some of the best in Jamaica who would have had the level of exposure and understand the standards in the international space to bring up the cohort to those levels,” Dr. Wallace emphasized.
The program will conclude with a grand showcase and formal graduation ceremony later this year, where participants will receive their certifications. With the first cohort approaching completion, TEF is already preparing to welcome a second cohort in the upcoming financial year starting April, demonstrating the program’s ongoing commitment to developing local talent and enhancing Jamaica’s tourism product through professional entertainment.