The Trinidad and Tobago Music Company Limited’s (MusicTT) General Manager, Melissa Jimenez, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone becoming the first Caribbean national and by extension, the first Trinidad and Tobago citizen to be awarded a fellowship, as well as present at the prestigious International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) Congress 2024 where they celebrated 75 years.
This achievement marks a historic moment for Jimenez, MusicTT and the creative landscape of Trinidad and Tobago.
Jimenez was selected as one (1) of Fifty-four (54) fellows representing thirty (30) countries at the ISPA Congress 2024. The Fellows Day Seminar took place on the 8th January and the ISPA Congress took place from the 9th – 11th at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC), World Trade Center, New York.
ISPA CEO David Baille, also invited Ms. Jimenez to deliver a presentation on the Performing Arts Landscape in T&T as part of the programme’s Regional Update segment which started the Congress proceedings each day. Jimenez delivered the presentation on Thursday 11th, 1:30PM EST at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC), World Trade Center, New York.
The ISPA Congress Fellowship is a highly competitive program that provides opportunities for emerging leaders in the performing arts to engage with a global network of professionals, exchange ideas, and contribute to the development of the international performing arts community. Since its inception in 2007, the ISPA Fellowship has been a platform for fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing among professionals in the performing arts industry.
Melissa Jimenez’s selection as a fellow for the ISPA Congress 2024 not only underscores her dedication and contributions to the field but also highlights the richness of talent and expertise present in Trinidad and Tobago’s creative industries sector. As the General Manager of MusicTT, Jimenez has been a driving force behind initiatives to elevate and promote Trinidad and Tobago’s vibrant music scene on the global stage.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the ISPA Fellowship and extend a hearty Thank You to the ISPA team for choosing me. As an Arts Manager it is my desire to understand the business needs of the various art forms across the visual and performing arts; make as many connections as I can in various so that I can further understand the landscape in other territories, in order to create collaborative and international exchange opportunities for Caribbean nationals thereby facilitating professional and business development .
People who don’t care to understand the Arts often think that endeavors like these are “joy ride trips” but don’t understand that it’s just like any other business. If you’re not in the room spending time connecting with key personnel networking and building relationships – you basically don’t exist and would find that growth and scalability is much slower than it should be. I am a forever learner and attending this congress of great minds added to my growth as a creative professional, can open doors and create opportunities. ” said Melissa Jimenez.
MusicTT congratulates Melissa Jimenez on this historic achievement and applauds her commitment to advancing the performing arts in the Caribbean. This accomplishment reflects the organization’s dedication to fostering international collaborations and opportunities for the talented individuals contributing to the region’s creative vibrancy.
To learn more about ISPA, visit www.ispa.org. To keep up to date with MusicTT news, follow @musicoftt on Instagram and Facebook.
