Established artistes along with emerging acts will be showcased in the Creatives For Peace Workshops and Talent Shows in different areas throughout Jamaica starting December 5, 2025 through to January 22, 2026.

This initiative is a collection drive for babies and children up to the age of 15-year-olds affected by Hurricane Melissa – The six events will be providing care packages.

Paula Surtees, Conceptualizer & Project Manager tells us more.

Creatives For Peace is a joint project between the Violence Prevention Alliance, Island Coffees Ltd. and Conscious Reggae Party which seeks to enable at-risk youths from inner-city communities to become positive influencers and role models for their peers and the younger generation through the Creative Arts.

These include, but are not limited to, hosting, dancing, singing, poetry, drama, and players of instruments. The project not only facilitates a space where young talents can be showcased virtually on it’s social media platforms “@creativesforpeace/creatives4peace” but also via live performances.

These workshops are conducted by Paula Surtees, a music publisher who has been in the industry for over 30 years, the Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (JACAP), Ms. Joy Fairclough of Joy Music Productions and Mr. Lowell Lawson of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and Affiliates Union (JFMAU) along with established artists such as Nadine Sutherland, Droop Lion, Tommy Cowan and Carlene Davis-Cowan, just to name a few, providing mentorship. The late Ibo Cooper played a critical role by providing free classes at the Edna Manley School of Performing Arts.

To participate and remain in programme, participants must meet the following criteria:

1. Original lyrics – writers/composers
2. Clean, positive, and uplifting lyrics
3. No derogatory or degrading lyrics
4. No partisan lyrics
5. No promotion of guns or chopper lyrics
6. Respect for all

Since the project started in June 2022 with the first show launched at the Craig Town Football competition and then subsequently held at Island Coffees Café, Ocean Boulevard, they have had over 400 participants from areas such as: Trench Town, Craig Town, Tivoli, Spanish Town, Allman Town, Parade Gardens, Portmore, Seaview Gardens, Red Hills, Mountain View, just to name a few.

Proper documentation has been kept for the participants as this is a requirement for the VPA reports.

Needs assessments are also conducted, which gears towards offering psycho-social support, assistance with transitional housing and emergency care, along with referral to identified agencies.