Fri | Sep 12, 2025

Bank of Jamaica pledges $15m to downtown Kingston art district

Published:Tuesday | June 24, 2025 | 12:08 AMPaul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer
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The Bank of Jamaica-sponsored mural titled, ‘The Arches of Cultural Wealth’, at the intersection of Duke Street and Peter’s Lane in downtown Kingston.
Paul Williams Photos
The Bank of Jamaica-sponsored mural titled, ‘The Arches of Cultural Wealth’, at the intersection of Duke Street and Peter’s Lane in downtown Kingston.
From left: Noel Greenland, executive director of communication, Bank of Jamaica (BOJ); Andrea Dempster Chung, executive director, Kingston Creative; BOJ Governor Richard Byles; Pamella Chang, artist; Wayne Robinson, senior deputy governor, BOJ; and Peter G
From left: Noel Greenland, executive director of communication, Bank of Jamaica (BOJ); Andrea Dempster Chung, executive director, Kingston Creative; BOJ Governor Richard Byles; Pamella Chang, artist; Wayne Robinson, senior deputy governor, BOJ; and Peter Goldson, Kingston Creative board director, cutting the ribbon to officially inaugurate the new Bank of Jamaica mural on Water Lane, downtown Kingston, on Friday, June 20.
Artist Pamella Chang
Artist Pamella Chang
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ON FRIDAY, June 20, the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), the nation’s central bank, announced an “impact investment” of $15 million for over a three-year period, as part of Kingston Creative’s Adopt-A-Block initiative, which seeks “to ensure the creation of an art district in downtown Kingston”.

The is after the BOJ officially inaugurated a significant piece of public art titled ‘The Arches of Cultural Wealth’ at the intersection of Duke Street and Peter’s Lane in downtown Kingston. This new work of art was created by visual artist Pamella Chang, a young artist hailing from Mandeville, Manchester.

Chang explained that this mural is a celebration of Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage and the dynamic evolution of our monetary systems. She was supported in its execution by artists Marvin Hibbert, Shanelle Davis, and Jaevon Vassel.

The mural is a central part of the BOJ’s multi-year commitment to downtown Kingston, and part of Kingston Creative’s thrust to seek to have eight city blocks of Water Lane adopted by corporate entities. The BOJ is the seventh entity to go onboard, so only one block remains to be adopted.

Kingston Creative is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to using art, culture, and creativity to drive social and economic transformation in Jamaica. Through public art projects, creative entrepreneurship programmes, and community development initiatives, Kingston Creative is transforming downtown Kingston into a vibrant art district and creative hub, where it has established several eye-catching murals and brick roads, so far.

The ceremony was attended by Richard Byles, governor of the BOJ; Senior Deputy Governor of the BOJ, Wayne Robinson; Noel Greenland, executive director of communications; Sandra Moodie, museum curator of the Bank of Jamaica; Pamella Chang, lead artist on the mural; Andrea Dempster Chung, executive director of Kingston Creative; Peter Goldson, Doris Gross and Kerry Jo Ford Lyn, directors of Kingston Creative’s board; and BOJ’s staff members, “highlighting the central bank’s commitment to public engagement and national identity through creative expression”.

“At the Bank of Jamaica, we firmly believe in Kingston’s immense potential as a more desirable location for Jamaicans to live and work and as a hub for cultural tourism and a thriving ecosystem,” Governor Byles said.

“We recognise that the growth of Jamaica‘s creative economy significantly contributes to national development and GDP (gross domestic product), and that the economic and social vitality of Kingston as a creative city depends on strategic investments, public-private collaborations and enabling frameworks. That is why we are here today, to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the transformation of Kingston and by extension, Jamaica.”

His colleague, Noel Greenland, supported him by saying, “The BOJ, established on May 1, 1960, has been at the forefront of Jamaica’s financial development for over six decades. This installation reflects not only the bank’s presence in the area since the 1960s, but its active engagement in culture, creative place-making and neighbourhood revitalisation.”

“The Bank of Jamaica has been headquartered here for over half a century and they have observed the changes in downtown Kingston first-hand. With this charitable donation to our non-profit, their involvement goes far beyond simply sponsoring a work public art. Their $15 million multi-year commitment signals a recognition of the need for long-term investment in an innovative, culture driven, ground-up approach to regeneration of the city. We are extremely grateful for their partnership and that of all the other first 100 partners that support us in making a positive impact, and I hope that this encourages the final Adopt-A Block partner to come on board!,” Dempster Chung told The Gleaner.

And, her board member, Doris Gross, had this to say: This 117th (since 2018) mural and adoption of a block of downtown Kingston is a milestone of Kingston Creative’s nonprofit mission to enable Caribbean creatives to succeed so that they can create economic and social value, gain access to global markets, and have a positive impact on their local communities.”