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Exploring the Digital Space of the Creative Industries: Opportunities for Youth
The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport of Jamaica hosted an event themed “Exploring the Digital Space” on 25 February. The event highlighted artificial intelligence (AI), content creation, gaming, animation, and other digital industries that may be of interest to young students in terms of potential job opportunities and professional journeys for their future.
The initiative, which was not only in person but also broadcast via social media, was developed in partnership with the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, which also provided financial support. It sought to empower and inspire high school and college students, along with at-risk youth, by offering a wide range of valuable insights and pathways into creative careers.
The representative of UNESCO, Dr. Paul Hector, welcomed participants and referred to them as “young visionaries” while underscoring the ongoing transformation that is taking place in creative industries.
Technology is revolutionizing how we produce, share and monetize music, art, animation, gaming and digital storytelling. But as these opportunities grow, so do challenges—particularly around the ethical use of AI, intellectual property rights and the fair compensation of creators
He also stressed that crucial stakeholders, working together, can harness AI and digital transformation to build a fair, innovative Caribbean creative economy. Along these lines, he mentioned that the event was indeed “an investment in the next generation.”
Culture and creativity are not just expressions of identity, but also powerful economic and social drivers. Engage with the many experts you have here, explore new tools and seize the opportunities the digital world offers, while staying rooted in your Jamaican cultural heritage
The Honorable Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport of Jamaica, mentioned that speakers at the event are examples for the youngsters of what they can achieve while underlining the importance of February, recognized as ‘Reggae Month’ and the support provided by the Ministry for various cultural activities around it.
I hope that young people are learning about the root of our culture as it is important for you to know where we come from so you also know where we are we going to
The Minister reminded the critical relevance of understanding and learning the business of the creative sector to secure the future of those who want to purse a creative career.
The creative economy is alive and kicking and has the potential to grow our economy and create jobs, and it is already an alternative to traditional sectors which spurs GDP. Digital creativity, in particular. utilizes new and emerging technologies and aims to arrive at innovative solutions and modes of expression and design while seeking to reach audiences in ways never thought of before. So, the world is our stage at this time
The event’s speakers included entrepreneurs and representatives of start-ups and the corporate world, as well as practitioners like TV producers, actors, authors, animators, social media influencers, digital content creators, podcasters, and musicians.
