Author: avf_admin_2024

Jamaica’s first artisan village is set to redefine the tourism experience, enabling visitors to shop for unique products crafted by locals, while enjoying the country’s vibrant culture and heritage. 

The over $700 million facility, situated at the former Hampden Wharf, is strategically located along the corridor leading to the Falmouth cruise ship pier in Trelawny. 

Designed to be a hub for authentic Jamaican products, the state-of-the-art facility is themed to tell the story of Falmouth,  and will showcase a diverse array of offerings, ranging from unique craft and souvenir items to traditional cuisine as well as lively entertainment – all under one roof.  

A soft opening of the Falmouth Artisan Village was held on March 20 to familarise stakeholders with the facility. 

“Visitors will have the opportunity to savor the rich flavors of Jamaican cuisine, all prepared with the finest local ingredients and served with warm Jamaican hospitality,” Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr. Carey Wallace, tells JIS News.  

“The experience will also see our local artisans and craftsmen showcasing their skills and creations, providing visitors with the chance to purchase unique souvenirs and mementos that capture the essence of Jamaican artistry,” he says. 

“From intricately woven baskets to vibrant paintings and handmade jewelry, the village will be a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind items that reflect the creativity and talent of local artisans,” he adds. 

Dr. Wallace says that in addition to shopping and dining experiences, the artisan village will also offer a vibrant entertainment programme that showcases the rich cultural heritage of Jamaica. 

He says that visitors can look forward to live music, traditional dance showcases, and other engaging sessions that highlight the island’s unique history and traditions.  

“Whether it’s swaying to the rhythm of reggae music or learning about the significance of the Falmouth experience and history, guests will be immersed in the sights and sounds of Jamaica’s vibrant cultural tapestry,” he notes. 

The unveiling of the innovative project has been met with enthusiastic support from various stakeholders including Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC), Joy Roberts, who hails the village as a game changer and a significant boost for the tourism industry.  

She tells JIS News that the artisan village is expected to not only attract a steady stream of visitors but also create new opportunities for local businesses and artisans, driving economic growth and fostering a greater sense of community pride. 

“As a hub of cultural exchange and celebration, the artisan village represents a shining example of sustainable tourism development that honours and preserves Jamaica’s rich heritage,” she notes. 

“By offering visitors an authentic and immersive experience that showcases the best of Jamaican craftsmanship, cuisine, and culture, the village is poised to become a must-visit destination for travellers seeking a deeper connection with the destinations they explore,” she adds. 

Ms. Roberts notes further that “with its vibrant energy, diverse offerings, and commitment to promoting local talent and traditions”, the artisan village is set to captivate the hearts and minds of all who pass through its welcoming gates. 

“The village will glow with the warmth and vibrancy of Jamaican culture, inviting visitors to experience the magic of this enchanting island paradise,” she says.  

For her part, Director of the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation/Craft Development Institute, Carol Rose Brown, who led a tour of the village, says the facility will give visitors a taste of Falmouth and a valid reason to spend quality time in the coastal town. 

“I see this as an all-day tour…where once you are in you will have all the reasons to want to stay for the entire day,” she tells JIS News. 

“It will be a win-win for everybody. Our visitors, including locals, will love the experience, and our vendors will do very well. Falmouth and Jamaica by extension will also be big winners,” she notes. 

Ms. Rose Brown says the attraction not only offers a one-of-a-kind design but a unique experience that will tell the story of Falmouth “in a space where you can meet the most amazing and authentic artisans in the region”. 

“We believe this immersive experience, combined with entertainment and other kinds of details that will emerge, will make Falmouth a special place,” she adds. 

The Falmouth Artisan Village is financed by the TEF and forms part of the wider Hampden Wharf Development project. 

It is the first of a series of similar facilities that will be established in resort areas across the island. 

The $700-million artisan village in Falmouth is set for opening today, March 20.

At a sensitisation meeting recently, Manager Carol Rose-Brown shared that Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlet is scheduled for a walk-through of the facility, to which the public is also invited.

Giving an overview, Rose-Brown said:” There will be a façade of Falmouth, to include buildings like the courthouse and the parish church and shops, which offer guests unique items made right there on the village site. These include items made from straw and costume jewellery. “Dr Carey Wallace, Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) manager, added, “Unlike what is offered in local craft traders, the items sold in the Artisan Village will be of cutting-edge technology. Each shop will offer something different.”

Rose-Brown said the facility will also feature an entertainment section.

“Twelve persons from the area have been chosen and trained to provide the entertainment, “she said.

However the presentation did not escape criticism.

Fabian Davis, councillor for the Duncans Division, described it as a ‘cloning of Falmouth’. “What is being described as being on offer leaves very little for visitors to feel the need to walk through the town,” Davis said.

Devon Brown and Jonathan Bartley expressed disappointment that tambu dancing will not be a part of the original entertainment package.

Said Bartley: “This form of dancing is popular in Wakefield. Research should have been done before spending all that money to train twelve persons to provide entertainment.” Brown, a social development officer agreed.

Garth Wilkinson, a former mayor of Falmouth, queried why the old sugar warehouse could not be converted into an amphitheatre to meet the parish’s need for a public entertainment space.

“Adequate research should have been done and the need for an amphitheatre would have surfaced. There is no place in Trelawny which can host plays, etc,” he noted.

Wallace, in response, said,” Most of the planning has gone through, but we can look into the tambu dancing in the future.”

The artisan village in Falmouth was initially announced in 2016, to be built with 300 stores selling craft and other indigenous products, as well as space to assist the creation of these items by local craftsmen. When finished, the artisan village will complement the adjacent Falmouth dock and reposition it as the Caribbean’s main cruise ship port of call, according to earlier reports.

amaica’s first artisan village which has been erected at a cost of $700 million at the old Hampden Wharf building in Falmouth, Trelawny, is expected to be opened early next year.

The opening of the facility, which is to accommodate 42 artisans, has been stalled as a result of the novel coronavirus.

The works of 10 of the 42 artisans were on display during a recent pop-up at the village.

The event coincided with the arrival of Carnival Corporation’s Emerald Princess at the Falmouth port. The ship was the first to be welcomed at the port in some 20 months.

Speaking at the pop-up, head of the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation, Carol Rose Brown, said  the motive behind  the exhibition of the works of the 10 artisans was to provide the cruise passengers with a taste of what to expect when the facility is officially opened.

“We have altogether 42 artisans who will be working in the artisan village in Falmouth and we expect to be opened early 2022,” Rose Green explained.

“We are delayed in rolling out the artisan village. The board has asked us to expand opportunities for showing our visitors what to expect at the artisan village,” she added.

“On this occasion, the first ship into Falmouth since March of 2020, we are doing what we call loosely a pop-up where we are showcasing 10 of the artisans taking shops in the artisan village to offer Jamaica and our visitors a taste of what they are likely to expect when the village opens.”