Growth & Jobs | MIIC recognises creatives

ON TUESDAY, March 11, inside the ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston, three creative businesses received $150,000 each and a trophy after they emerged winners of their respective categories in the National Craft Product Quality Showcase art and craft competition, spearheaded by the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce (MIIC).

Kabreco Designs received two awards and a total of $300,000 for ‘Best Souvenir Product’ (memento representing Jamaica far away from its borders) and ‘Best Corporate Gift’ (appropriate and innovative gift options that can sustainably fuel corporate demand).

The other winners were 44 Miles for ‘Best Jewellery Product’ (stylish with a must-have appeal for the discerning and the trendy); Robert Maxwell Campbell for ‘Best Interior Product’ (carrying a distinctive, functional, and culturally evident Jamaican vibe); and Kalia & Co for ‘Best Textile Product’ (Jamaican handmade textile craft).

The event was billed ‘Craft and Coffee’, “an initiative to facilitate information exchange, networking, and increased visibility of the Jamaican craft industry”.

The showcase and awards were a production of the National Craft Policy of Jamaica. It aimed to: inspire creativity, “empowering artisans to turn imagination into unique handcrafted creations”; celebrate craftmanship, “showcasing the beauty of tradition and innovation in every piece”; and to brew connections, “where coffee culture meets the artistry craftsmanship”.

“The authentic Jamaican crafts must highlight products that stand out in innovation, performance, reliability, and potential buyer satisfaction,” the producers said. The pieces were awarded based on cultural representation (20 per cent); craftsmanship, aesthetic, appeal, and design (40 per cent); functionality and usefulness (20 per cent); and value for money (20 per cent).

Second- and third-place winners also were given trophies while all short-listed entrants in the various categories received a certificate of participation. Two hundred and twenty artisans operating in Jamaica were invited. Fifty-eight accepted the invitation, and 29 were short-listed.

There was an exhibition of the short-listed pieces as well as a panel discussion, networking, and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill, who toured the exhibits, spoke to the gathering in a special keynote address.

“Jamaica is a nation of creators, innovators, and astute entrepreneurs. We are builders of industry, exporters of culture, and go-getters in business. I am pleased to be here with you today at this important Craft and Coffee Workshop as the minister of industry, investment and commerce, Jamaica’s business ministry, to celebrate the ingenuity, culture, and resilience that define Jamaican craft,” Senator Hill said, among other things.

“As a business owner, you must think bigger, think global – not just selling at local craft expos, but placing products in hotels, airport duty-free stores, cruise ports, and even on airlines. Your brand should be seen in in-flight magazines, airport billboards, and online platforms worldwide. This is how major brands dominate, and there is no reason Jamaican craft cannot do the same.”

Robert Maxwell Campbell, one of the aforementioned winners, in speaking with The Gleaner, exclusively, said, “I am a full-time, self-taught artist without the limitations of what materials to work with as I work with clay, wood, and paints, and sometimes a combination of materials.

“My acceptance in the competition gave me a great feeling, and I was sure the piece I submitted for the Best Interior Design had a compelling story … I knew the piece was a winner but was open to whatever the outcome was either way. It’s a winner inside and outside of competition, so my participation was more joyful as I consider all of us in this category of artisans are winners.”