GX Network
Latoya Shea’s Let There Be Light Academy Aims to Forge Jamaica’s Next Wave of Creative Talent
Jamaica’s creative export machine has long been the envy of the Caribbean—from riddim architects to visionary filmmakers, the island’s talent pool has shaped global culture. But Latoya Shea is thinking deeper. Her Let There Be Light Academy isn’t just about churning out the next big name; it’s about systematizing the creative process itself, building institutional infrastructure where aspiring producers, engineers, and content creators can sharpen their craft with real mentorship and technical rigor.
The academy represents a crucial shift in how Jamaica develops its creative economy. Rather than relying on the traditional pathway of talent scouts and studio apprenticeships, Shea is creating a formal pipeline—one that could democratize access to the knowledge that’s historically been gatekept by industry veterans. For a nation whose cultural exports generate serious foreign exchange, investing in the next generation of creators isn’t just cultural pride; it’s economic strategy.