Jamaica's Craft Industry 

'The creativity, the colour and the richness of the craft and the enduring spirit of our craft traders are the qualities that appeal to our visitors and capture their imagination.' - Binger.K, 2002

The main activities undertaken by Jamaica's craft traders are the creation of textile, ceramic, jewellery, metal and glass works. These are usually handmade and the skill is one that is past down within generations of family members. A large amount of Jamaica's craft traders do the art as a substitute income and usually have a second job.

Over the years there has been a lot of talk but little action from the government to improve Jamaica's Craft Industry. This may be due to the fact that this industry like the other creative industries in Jamaica is hard to classify and quantify. Craft Traders usually sell the pieces themselves directly to the public and as the returns are most times very modest they generally fall below the tax threshold.

The government’s attitude may be changing since there is now a renewed interest to upgrade the industry because of its impact on our tourism sector.

An article published by the Gleaner Company dated December 10, 2009 reports that the Tourism Ministry is undertaking an $87 million exercise to upgrade craft markets in resort towns across Jamaica.

These towns include; Musgrave Craft Market in Portland; the Ocho Rios Crafts Market in St Ann; the Old fort and Harbour Street Craft markets in Montego Bay; and the Negril Craft Market in Westmorland.

The only problem I have with this approach is the negative impact it will have when all the focus and funding is place on the craft markets in resort towns.

What will happen to the already run down shell that is the Kingston Craft Market built from 1872 it is the oldest and most neglected of all the craft markets and what about craft entities such as Things Jamaican?

The Craft Industry should be developed across the board so that craft products manufactured and sold in Jamaica is of top quality in Montego Bay as well as in Kingston.

A major area of discontent to customers who buy our craft products is the poor quality with which they are made and the lack of diversity and creativity in the design of the products.

The same article speaks of a collaborative effort that will be undertaken by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Jamaica Business Development Centre, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and the HEART Trust/NTA to produce a craft development strategy.

I can only hope that this initiative will come to fruition and that part of their goal will be to provide product development training for our craft traders.