The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) Division of Cultural Education is now accepting student art submissions for the "David Hamilton Jackson and All Ahwe: Creative Expression for Cultivating Awareness and Social Change" exhibition. Students are invited to create art that captures the essence of David Hamilton Jackson’s contributions to labor rights, press freedom, and civil liberties in the Virgin Islands. These creative works may manifest in various forms, including visual art, written compositions, music, and STEAM projects. Student projects can be submitted online at https://tinyurl.com/zycxepfd and are due by Friday, October 20th, 2023.
This exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Division of Cultural Education and the Annual Grove Place Action Committee observance of David Hamilton Jackson Month. All student art submissions will have the opportunity to be showcased in the exhibition, which will run through November coinciding with David Hamilton Jackson Month and Liberty Day celebrations in the Virgin Islands. The Department of Education is committed to empowering students to become advocates for positive change in society.
Born in September 1884, David Hamilton Jackson was a labor rights advocate in the Danish West Indies which later became the United States Virgin Islands. Jackson was an important figure in the struggle for increased civil rights and workers' rights on the islands. He petitioned for freedom of the press and organized the first trade union for the islands. Following the transfer of the territory to American control in 1917, Jackson lobbied for U.S. citizenship for islanders. He died on May 30, 1946, but his legacy will be remembered.
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Download press release here: pdf Press Release 1014 23 David Hamilton Jackson Student Call for Art (170 KB)
