The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, EMCVPA, is mindful that the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated a shift in the operations of our teaching and learning process.

The College will therefore be implementing measures to ensure the well-being of our stakeholders for the commencement of the 2020/2021 academic year.

At the School of Dance at EMCVPA, students are exposed to a curriculum that develops and prepares them to be critical thinkers, fearless and fluent performers. Founded in 1970, the School of Dance operates like a closely knitted family exposing its students to a rich education in dance consisting of training in performance, composition, choreography, and dance education. It includes studies in Jamaican and Caribbean folk forms, international dance forms, such as jazz, modern and ballet techniques, as well as dance theory all delivered in a nurturing atmosphere conducive to learning.

The School of Arts Management provide the competencies our students to excel as independent artist managers, reinvent existing cultural organizations, and launch their own arts-related enterprises. The Humanities programme allows students in all five schools – Arts Management and Humanities, Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Arts to develop not only as artists/es but as a well - rounded individuals who are sensitive to other human beings and informed critical citizens.

The four year programme prepares students for a diverse range of career options in performing arts management, community arts, arts education, project management, arts administration, entrepreneurship, partnership management, and other skills necessary to meet the needs of cultural and creative industries.

The School of Visual Arts provides a space for students to converge and unleash their innovative and creative energies. At the undergraduate level SVA offers Bachelor of Fine Arts Associate and studio certificates in a variety of disciplines including Painting, Sculpture, Jewellery, Printmaking, Ceramics, Visual Communication including Illustration and Animation, Textiles and Fibre Arts, Photography. There is also a Post Graduate Degree in Art Education in collaboration with Ohio State University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Art Therapy.

The School of Drama exposes students to various creative techniques unique to the Caribbean while embracing classical theatre training through an empowering academic curriculum and conservatory training steeped in the rich cultural traditions of the Caribbean. Students are trained in theatre arts including acting, directing, stage management and set design and drama education delivered in a creative and reflective environment which challenges students to question societal norms and equip them with the skills to engage the world creatively and professionally through drama.

Jamaica is known across the world for reggae music and at the EMCVPA School of Music, a world of music awaits you with a faculty of seasoned and iconic musicians classically trained and authentically Caribbean. The School of Music provides training for young musicians and music educators in performance, popular music studies, instrumental and vocal, music education and music technology. Students explore modules outside their area of specialization including music business, development, creativity and social enterprise providing students with the necessary skills — business, creative, and intellectual — so that they might emerge as visionary creative entrepreneurs in the evolving music industry.

"What was especially awakening for me was the reality check I got when I started to go to Edna Manley College and learned exactly what design and illustration was. It was then and there I think I made a dramatic change in how I went about doing my art and what I wanted to present to people and what I wanted to represent...."

Taj Francis

TV Host, beauty queen, front covers, and commercials, Yendi has done it all but it is dance that makes her come alive. She shares that EMCVPA gave her more than dance, it gave her discipline, commitment and a passion for excellence. Yendi currently uses dance to encourage fitness with her Yendi Master Dance Class (YMDC).

Yendi Phillips

Blending his obsession with Jamaican street signs and old school dancehall illustrations, Matthew McCarthy has revisioned the global street art movement in Jamaica through the Paint Jamaica Project/Initiative.

Matthew McCarthy

The five piece reggae band from Kingston, Jamaica – Raging Fyah – was formed by classmates Pele, Demar and Anthony Watson. They met at the School of Music under the tutelage of Ibo Cooper, the former keyboardist with Third World. They later joined forces with veteran guitarist Courtland “Gizmo” White...

Raging Fyah