Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in 2004. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts produces around 80 graduates per year, but many end up working in fields that are not their first choice.

When compared to other tertiary-level institutions, this number is relatively small. But it might as well be 800, since finding a job in the arts in Jamaica is no picnic. Some graduates are frustrated that at times, their only choice seems to be teaching.

Marlon Thompson left Edna Manley in 2004 and is now juggling three different interests - not because he wants to, but he cannot do one independently of the others since stability does not exist in the arts.

"I wanted to pursue a career as an artist, but it is difficult when you leave school if you didn't have a clientele while you were in college. I chose arts education because I thought it would make me more rounded and it also gave me something to fall back on," Thompson said.

Thompson is now teaching and working with an alarm installation company, while doing singing and music gigs. He said he knows what he is, but does not know exactly what to do.

Not appreciative

"A majority of the persons who leave, end up in a next field. Going to Edna Manley can be a good or bad thing. Jamaicans are not that appreciative of the arts. If you want to be in a steady job or have a steady income, you have to go into teaching," Thompson said.

A representative from the college's registrar's department said, while it is not scientific, they have observed the same trend and lamented that not all the past students who end up teaching have been trained to do so.

She said this is partly because "the country has still not accepted that these (the arts) are professions".

"The school and the arts are now exploding in entertainment and culture ... we are encouraging our students to look at ways they can develop businesses of their own," she said.

Many will look on and think that theatre, music and the arts in general are booming in Jamaica and that should mean good things for the graduates. Yet, very few graduates are seen on the stage.

According to Damion Radcliffe, founder of the Independent Actor's Movement, one way students can avoid settling for jobs they don't want is to become more creative and resourceful with doing their training. In order for this to happen though, he said the business side of the arts should be an integral part of the curriculum.

"Students are not fully equipped with what is expected of them in the outside world. We give them a reality check. Aspiring artists are frustrated. They enter Edna Manley to be better and when you leave the college and enter society it is frustrating," Radcliffe said.

The real problem

And while the registrar's department at the college contends that Jamaicans are not appreciative of the arts, Radcliffe maintains this is not the case. He gave examples of the theatre and other performing arts sectors that have been well supported. To him, the problem lies with what the school and what the students do with raw talent.

"There is not enough concentration on the business side. Until people can realise that, then some opportunities will miss them," he said.

It is not all bad though. The good which Thompson spoke about occurred for Samantha Brown. She knew she wanted to be a teacher an she gets a little frustrated with the school system at times, the decision was a great one for her. She taught part-time while she attended Edna Manley and was about to find a job immediately after she left college.

She applied to both Mico Teachers's College and Edna Manley but was certain she wanted to attend the latter. She was also in arts education.

"I didn't hear back from Mico, but that didn't matter because I got into Edna Manley. It was a good decision because they have great lecturers and they help you," she said.

Name has been changed.