Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts

Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, formerly Jamaica School of Art and Crafts, is an important arts school in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1940, Edna Manley pioneered evening art classes at the Institute of Jamaica's Junior Centre but it was not until 1950 that the first formal arts school opened at the DaCosta Institute at 1 Central Avenue, Kingston Gardens.^[1] A number of leading Jamaican artists collaborated with Manley to open the first art school in Jamaica, including Albert Huie who became one of the tutors.^[2] 64 paying students enrolled in the first year and due to unexpected interest expanded the school at 11 North Street.^[1]

Barrington Watson established a four-year Diploma curriculum to the teaching of Art when the country gained independence in 1962. By 1964-65 the college had 86 full-time and 84 part-time students.^[1]

After being renamed in 1967 to the Jamaica School of Art, in 1976 the school was incorporated into the Cultural Training Centre and moved to its new facilities at 1 Arthur Wint Drive, expanding its scope to include Art, Music, Dance, and Drama governed by the Institute of Jamaica under the Ministry of Culture.^[1]

In 1987 Edna Manley died and it was later officially designated a college in 1995, renamed as the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.^[1]

In September 2004 the School of Visual Arts launched its degree program and today offers Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Bachelor of Art Education (BAE) degrees and a BA degree course offered jointly with the University of the West Indies.^[1]

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