CHASE Fund Arts & Culture policy and Scholarships and Education Grants are integral to the fulfillment of the objective to “establish, fund and implement programmes for the development of talents and skills in the areas of arts and culture”. These scholarships and grants are intended to help promising Jamaican nationals defray the cost to complete studies in specified areas of arts and culture, locally or overseas, at the following levels of academic pursuits:
- Undergraduate certificate or diploma courses
- Bachelors degree programmes
- Masters degree programmes
- Post graduate certificate and diploma programmes.
Overseas studies will only be supported where a comparable programme is not offered locally or where part funding has been secured through overseas scholarships.
Annual Allocation and Distribution of Scholarships and Grants
CHASE Fund Arts and Culture scholarships are capped at 10% of the sector’s annual receipts up to a maximum of J$10M in any given year. A maximum of five scholarships are awarded each year. The focus for each year as well as the distribution of scholarships across the different academic levels is determined by the Board of Directors.
Educational grants totaling a maximum of $3M are awarded annually, primarily to students of the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, who are experiencing financial challenges.
Coverage
The CHASE Fund Arts & Culture scholarship and grant policy seeks to reward excellence in the categories stated below and to ensure that young Jamaicans pursuing studies in these areas are not prevented from completing their studies due to financial constraints.
- Performing Arts
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Film
- Media (to include journalism and media communications)
- Literary Works
- Craft
Each year, specific categories are selected and the scholarships offered in honour of Cultural Icons. Institutions such as the Edna Manley College can nominate candidates each year.
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When and How to Apply
- The applicant must be a Jamaican national.
- The applicant must have maintained a satisfactory level of academic achievement. A ‘B’ grade or a GPA of 3.5 and above must be maintained by scholarship recipients, while for educational grants, a tiered system will be adopted to reward the higher achievers.
- To qualify for a CHASE Scholarship based on the Arts and Culture policy, the applicant must have demonstrated exceptional talent in his/her chosen area of study.
- The applicant can be at any stage of the programme (i.e. acceptance, first year to final year), however, preference will be given to those in the final two years of their course of study
- Areas of study for new applicants must be in keeping with areas of focus stated by the CHASE Fund.
Bonding
According to the CHASE Art and Culture policy, recipients receiving scholarships and grant in excess of $300,000 will be bonded according to the MOF policy and in addition will be required to provide service to the country by way of annual concerts, donated art works, voluntary service, etc.
Length of Course
The length of a course is dependent on the course being undertaken. However, CHASE Fund Arts & Culture policy support will not exceed three years.
Expenses Covered by the Scholarships and Grants
Scholarships will provide support for tuition, books and related supplies, while educational grants will go towards tuition and ancillary fees.
Maintenance of Scholarship
The initial scholarship is awarded for one academic year beginning with the first term of the award, contingent upon the student maintaining the GPA of 3.5 and reporting same to CHASE within the specified time frame.
Scholarship Selection Committee
The distribution of scholarships across the different academic levels is determined by the Scholarship and Financial Aid Selection Committee. This Committee comprises selected members of CHASE’s Arts and Culture Committee as well as representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. Other representatives are co-opted as necessary, representing academia and industry.
Download the CHASE Fund Arts & Culture Scholarship Application Form – Arts & Culture.
