The Grenada Office of Creative Affairs (GOCA) celebrated the achievements of the first cohort of scholarship recipients for the Cultural & Creative Industries specialised courses offered by T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) at a certificate and award ceremony on January 9th, 2025. The graduating cohort, consisting of fifty-four (54) students, achieved a combined total of eighty-seven (87) passes in four courses: Introduction to Entertainment Law, Introduction to Entrepreneurship for Creative Industries, Marketing and Communications, and Digital Media.
The stand-alone specialised courses, offered for the first time in 2024 by T.A. Marryshow Community College, were designed to support and empower creative practitioners in their development as entrepreneurs. “Today’s event is a significant milestone for creativity and innovation in Grenada,” expressed Mr. Orlando Romain, Advisor w.r.f. the Creative Economy, during his remarks at the certificate and award ceremony. “We recognized, at the Unleash conference in 2023, the pressing need for enhanced capacity development and training in the creative industries. The collaboration between Grenada Office of Creative Affairs and T.A. Marryshow Community College turned that vision into a reality.”
Through this partnership, GOCA awarded one hundred (100) scholarships to the first cohort of Grenadian creatives to pursue the courses and plans to award additional scholarships each academic year. “The government views education and capacity building as an essential tool for unlocking Grenada’s creative potential,” stated Mr. Romain. “Our vision is to establish Grenada as a regional centre of excellence for training and development in a digital and creative economy.”
Grenada’s creative education offering is set to expand in September 2025 with the introduction of an associate degree in Creative and Cultural Industries at T.A. Marryshow Community College, as announced by Mr. Andrew Abraham, Principal of TAMCC. “This initiative reflects our commitment to offering a 21st century curriculum that aligns with our strategic pillars, including student mastery, institutional excellence and the development of intellectual capital right here in the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. This programme is designed to enhance our academic offerings, while supporting the growth of Grenada’s creative economy,” explained Mr. Abraham.
Senator the Hon. Quinc Britton, Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry of Tourism, the Creative Economy, and Culture, congratulated the scholarship recipients on their achievements and encouraged them to continue pursuing professional development opportunities. “Today’s creative landscape looks much different than it did 30 years ago, and it will only continue to evolve. To be successful in such a dynamic environment requires continued willingness to learn; therefore, I implore you to keep embracing these opportunities for professional development. Expand your skill sets, master new techniques, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Around the world, creative economies are booming, and if we remain stagnant, we will get left behind.”
A diverse mix of creatives, representing several sectors of the creative industry, completed the specialised courses. Reflecting on their experiences in the courses, Junior Checkley, multimedia practitioner, called the experience transformative and Kenrick Harper, music educator, explained that he is better equipped to handle the financial aspects of his craft. Nigel John praised the camaraderie of the cohort and encouraged fellow creatives to embrace collaboration. Published poet Donella Hosten expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to take the courses. “We have been waiting for a long time for this sort of traction in the creative field. As someone who has been doing this for more than 20 years, I think we are making a step in the right direction. I look forward to seeing more activities for creatives that will help us thrive and blossom in our respective fields.”
The second installment of specialised courses for the Cultural and Creative Industries starts on January 22nd, 2025 with two new courses to elevate the entrepreneurial skills of Grenadians in the cultural and creative industries. Registration for the new courses, Small Business Management for Creatives and Introduction to Portfolio, runs from January 13th – 17th at the TAMCC Tanteen Campus. Once registered, creatives can apply for a scholarship available from the Grenada Office of Creative Affairs. For more information about the specialised courses and scholarship programme, please email [email protected] or call 473-534-4622.
