Maria Smith holds
a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of the West Indies. Her Portfolio includes studies in Education,
Sociology, Culture, Cultural Studies, Dance, Traditional Religions, and field
research in Traditional Folk. Her work experience includes performing the roles
of lecturer, teacher-trainer and assessor in the areas of culture and dance at
the Joint Board of Teacher Education, University of the West Indies. She has
also served in the areas of cultural administration and training in the
Performing Arts at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and in
Project Management at the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO.
Between the years 2008-2015 and
currently her focus has been on her role as Programme Manager for The Jamaica
National Commission for UNESCO. In this position,
she has been privileged to work on a number of projects and to participate in
professional and academic conferences and meetings at the national, regional
and international levels. Her presentations
have included the following areas: Intangible Heritage, World Heritage, Cultural
Diversity, and Third World Religions. At
the tertiary level her focus has been in the areas of creating content and
providing the context necessary for the learner to understand and appreciate
the importance of Intangible Heritage. She has also served in an advisory
capacity on several National Boards: including the Jamaica National Commission UNESCO
Cultural Advisory Committee. Her life experiences have enabled her to view the
matter of safeguarding Heritage in a holistic manner.
Over forty years
of engagement in the field of culture and performance studies is reflected in
her upcoming publication, “Revivalism: Representing an
Afro-Jamaican Identity” which gives an account of the genesis of
Jamaica’s Intangible Heritage and its importance to individual and national
identity.