It gives me great pleasure to bring greetings as the Founding Chair of The Arts Foundation of the Edna Manley College Limited. As a major advocate of the Arts and the significant role it can play in our social and economic development, I welcome this bold step by the College to establish a Foundation to support and promote the Arts, both locally and internationally.

The Arts Foundation was incorporated on December 15, 2008, as an autonomous non-profit organization, to attract the necessary support and assistance that will facilitate the activities of the College. There is an ever expanding gap between the government’s subvention and fees and the development needs of the College; therefore, this move could not come at a more opportune time.  The major objectives of the Foundation are to:

1. Ensure greater community engagement through practical and relevant outreach programmes.
2. Strengthen institutional collaborations, locally and internationally.
3. Establish fundraising and economic enterprises to raise approximately $500 million over five years.
4. Involve itself in all areas of the College’s development.

To this end, the Foundation will host its first fundraising event on November 14, 2010, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, where internationally acclaimed Jamaican born bass-baritone, Sir Willard White, will give a benefit concert in support of the Foundation’s work. This promises to be a wonderful evening of music; and it is especially meaningful to the Foundation, considering Sir Willard is an alumnus of the Edna Manley College.

I am grateful for the support of the College and the extraordinary group of individuals, who have so readily volunteered to serve on the Foundation:

• Mr. Burchell Duhaney                  Deputy Chairman/Member
• Mr. Vivian Crawford                      Director/Member
• Mr. Earl Jarrett                               Director
• Mr. Jeff Cobham                           Director
• Mr. Stephen Facey                       Director
• Mr. Leslie Chang                          Director
• Mr. Wayne Chen                           Director
• Mrs. Barbara Alexander              Director
• Mrs. Camille Facey                      Director
• Mr. Sundiata Gibbs                      Secretary

A number of persons have also been invited to be Friends of the Foundation, and they will be able to identify opportunities for funding for the organization. We also invite your support, as we seek to give the Arts greater voice in our development as a people.