Wycliffe Samuel Bennett Awarded Gold Musgrave Medal
His Excellency The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, Governor General of Jamaica (left) and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, MP (centre) present Mr. Wycliffe Bennett with a Musgrave Certificate for being a “man of the arts” at a special Musgrave ceremony on Friday, August 28, 2009. Standing to Minister Grange’s left is Dr. Hazel Bennett, wife of Mr. Bennett. Mr. Sydney Bartley, Senior Director of Culture in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is in the background.
Wycliffe Samuel Bennett, C.D., M.F.A.; B.A., L.R.A.M., A.D.B on Friday, August 28, 2009 was awarded the “Gold” Musgrave Medal by the Council of The Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), in recognition of his distinguished career and outstanding contribution to the development of the Arts in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The presentation was made by the Governor General, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen who said that “Jamaicans had gained tremendous motivation from the life and work of Mr. Wycliffe Bennett.”
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Olivia (Babsy) Grange said, “Usain Bolt brought home gold from Berlin but today we honour you with our Gold.” Minister Grange acknowledged Mr. Bennett’s outstanding contribution to the field of culture making specific reference to his impact on the theatrical arts.
Dr. Hazel Bennett, wife of GOLD Musgrave medallist , Mr. Wycliffe Bennett signs the Institute of Jamaica Gold Musgrave Awardees register on behalf of her husband.
Mrs. Jean Smith, IOJ Council Member, read the Citation which recounted Mr. Bennett’s illustrious career, spanning some six decades, and beginning in the Civil Service, where he served in the Ministries of Finance, Education, Welfare & Culture; Mining & Natural Resources. He was later General Manager of the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) from 1968-71 and 1976-81, and demonstrated outstanding leadership and organizational skills in his memorable staging of the first Caribbean Festival of Arts – CARIFESTA in 1976.
Referred to by his friends, colleagues and students as the man of the arts, Mr. Bennett’s record of achievement and influence in various spheres of cultural life and development, especially theatre, are legendary. As a broadcaster, he is celebrated for his insistence on high standards, and excellence.
Wycliffe Bennett chaired the Ward Theatre Foundation from July, 1999 until 2004, when he was named Chairman Emeritus. He was the driving force behind the campaign to make the Ward Theatre function as a Civic and Cultural Centre, thereby endowing Jamaicans with a home for the development and exposition of the Performing Arts. He is a life member of the Little Theatre Movement, as well as former Executive Director of the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC). The impact of his work at the CPTC has been phenomenal and in 2007, the “Wycliffe
Prof. Barry Chevannes, Chairman of Council, Institute of Jamaica (left) greets Mr. Wycliffe Bennett, GOLD Musgrave awardee (right) as Mr. Vivian Crawford, Executive Director, IOJ (second left) and Dr. Hazel Bennett share the moment.
Bennett Television Studio” at that facility was dedicated in his honour. Speaking at the opening of the studio, the present Chairman praised Mr. Bennett as a Jamaican cultural stalwart, saying ”there is one person in this room whose lifetime contribution of excellence is best embodied in the production history, capabilities and prospect of this facility that we re-dedicate here today.”
Mr. Bennett also served as chairman of the Jamaica School of Drama, the Jamaica School of Music; Jamaica Drama League; Adult Drama Festival; and All Island Speech Festival. He is a former member of Council of the Institute of Jamaica, the Board of the Urban Development Corporation and Town & Country Planning Authority, and was the pioneer organiser of the National Festival of the Arts Movement for twenty years, 1943 – 1963.
Wycliffe dared to go, where others feared to tread in theatre. He encouraged pride in stage- craft and facilitated the careers of many prominent media and theatre personalities, and always found ways to expose new talent.
He has received several other awards, including Commander of the Order of Distinction 1977, Silver Musgrave Medal, Institute of Jamaica 1975, the Centenary Medal, Institute of Jamaica 1974, Caribbean Broadcasting Union 1990, Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (Inaugural Roll of Honour) 1994, the Dr. Bird Award for excellence as Producer/Director/Trainer in Film and Television 1998, Inductee, Caribbean Hall of Fame 1999, PNP 60th Anniversary Award for distinguished contribution to national development 1998, CPTC Award for outstanding services in the field of media, Arts and Culture 1999 and was the Actor Boy Honouree in 2008.
His Excellency The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, Governor General of Jamaica (left) prepares to present Mr. Wycliffe Bennett (right) with the GOLD MUSGRAVE medal at a Special Musgrave ceremony at the University Hospital of the West Indies on Friday, August 28, 2009 in recognition of his distinguished career and outstanding contribution to the development of the Arts in Jamaica and the Caribbean. His wife, Dr. Hazel Bennett (centre) looks on.
Mr. Bennett has published an assortment of articles on several thought provoking topics in publications such as “Life & Letters”; “Americas”; “Yale Daily News”; “The Jamaica Journal”; “Pepperpot”; “Caribbean Quarterly” and “The Encyclopaedia of Post Colonial Literatures” among others. He recently completed writing his memoirs. This publication is currently with the publishers.
He has been married to Hazel Eloise Gray, since September 14, 1957 and has one (1) daughter and one (1) son.
A select group of well-wishers including members of the IOJ team led by Chairman of Council, Prof. Barry Chevannes, Executive Director of the IOJ, Mr. Vivian Crawford, Bernard Jankee, Director of the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank (ACIJ/JMB), Dr. Julian Cresser, Senior Researcher at the ACIJ/JMB and Mrs. Clover Johnston, Director, Development & Public Relations were in attendance at the function.
Also, celebrating this occasion were Mr. Sydney Bartley, Senior Director of Culture in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mrs. Cissy Pouyatt, wife of Buddy Pouyatt who worked extensively with Mr. Bennett and a representation from the Ward Theatre Foundation, inclusive of Chairman, Mrs. Ruby Martin, vice Chairman Ms. Doreen Thompson and Mrs. Beverley Josephs.