Exhibitions are a very important part of the function of National Museum Jamaica, as this is one of the main ways that the museum disseminates information to the public. These exhibitions can be either temporary or permanent, and features a range of subject matter all focused on Jamaica’s history and ethnography.
The museum is also open to collaborating with or hosting exhibitions of local and international entities with similar missions to National Museum Jamaica.
Current exhibitions at our East Street location include:
• Who were the Taino?
• Ubuntu
• Treasures, Mysteries and Stories
Past exhibitions include:
This exhibition introduces Japan’s representative dolls, including Hina ningyo (Girls’ Festival dolls) and Gogatsu ningyo (Boys’ Day dolls), which have their origins in ancient customs; dolls connected to traditional performing arts like noh, bunraku and kabuki; regional dolls from throughout the country; and “creative dolls” produced by contemporary crafts-people.
National Museum Jamaica, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Jamaica, officially opened a temporary exhibition titled “The spirit of Budō: The History of Japan’s Martial Arts.” This exhibition seeks the understanding of viewers about the brief history of Japanese martial-arts-from battlefield combat techniques (bujutsu: bu-jut-su) to poplar sports or physical exercise tempering the body and spirit (budō: bu-do)
The Rastafari exhibition was launched in July 2013. It explores, celebrate and document one of the world’s most significant social and religious movements. It’s built on elements of Discovering Rastafari an exhibition launched in 2007 by the Smithsonian Institution, while our exhibition Rastafari, notably details the Mansions and Livity of the culture.