The UWI Celebrates 75: Culture and Performing Arts take centre stage this weekend

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Friday, November 17, 2023 — Performing arts take centre stage at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) this weekend with the Grand Finale of the We Rise Talent Showcase. Fifteen talented performers from across the ‘UWIverse’ will vie for the top spots and cash prizes in the virtual talent showcase on Saturday, November 18, 2023. Members of the public and all interested persons are invited to view live via www.uwitv.global from 6:00 pm (Jamaica/EST)/ 7:00 pm (Eastern Caribbean/AST).

The We Rise Talent Showcase is a UWI 75th anniversary commemorative event that aims to celebrate the performing arts and build camaraderie on the occasion of The UWI’s Diamond Jubilee anniversary. Finalists were selected from among staff, students, alumni and retirees who submitted video auditions displaying talent in dance, music, singing (voice) and performance arts – drama, comedy, poetry, puppetry and spoken word.

Encouraging wide participation from The UWI community and the public, University Registrar Dr Maurice D. Smith, Chair of The UWI’s 75th Anniversary Planning Committee said “The We Rise Talent Showcase is of course celebratory and commemorative as we mark our 75th anniversary. More strategically however, it has created a much-needed platform for developing performance talents, facilitating entertainment industry connections, and showcasing our creative abilities and rich culture to the world.”

The finalists in the category Performance Arts are Sherisse Bideshi, Suzette Edwards, Shimiah Lewis, Joel Phillip, and Isaiah Stokes all of the St. Augustine Campus and Katherine Johnson, Mona Campus. Vocalists from the Cave Hill Campus are Reniece Bonnett, Shernell Clarke, Blestina Charles and Terisha Gilbert; Lee-San Gayle, Orane Green of the Mona Campus, and Athalia Crump and Jerod Griffith representing the Five Islands and St. Augustine campuses respectively. Dr. Rakhee of the Mona Campus will perform the only dance act at the Grand Finale.

Determining who will take the top three spots is an experienced and qualified panel of judges. Dr Josephine Torrel-Brown, Educator, Researcher and Consultant in arts, culture and education will serve as the Head Judge. She will be joined by Anderson ‘Mr Blood’ Armstrong, Barbadian Entertainer; Michael Holgate Artistic Director and Head of The UWI’s Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts; Carla W. Springer Hunte, Cultural Consultant and Manager of the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination; and Nadean Rawlins, Director and Producer.

Prize sponsors include The UWI Institutional Advancement Division (IAD) and The UWI Credit Union.

Visit the official website to learn more about the We Rise Talent Showcase.

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old). The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu.