Frederick Philander
15 February 2008
Windhoek — It has now become known that the National Arts Council has received about 200 applications for financial support from Namibian artists in four different art disciplines.
This overwhelming response in my mind holds and indicates a number of dangers for the National Arts Council as well as for national arts development. In the first place the council cannot allow itself to be manipulated or bamboozled by artists from whatever creative discipline.
According to the NAC's administrator, the bulk of the applications submitted was for 'performing arts' of which 85 percent are music-orientated. In this I smell a few rats.
On the one hand, I don't think that 'performing arts' was clearly and specifically defined with the result that a loophole has been created, one that can cause many problems for the council.
In my book, performing arts reflect specifically on theatre performances, not music-orientated performances. As can be ascertained from the 85 percent as opposed to 'pure' theatre is again to get a raw deal with only 15 percent being financially supported if music is to be allowed to once again piggy-bag on theatre.
It is general knowledge that Namibian music has had the edge over other art disciplines for many years, thanks to the promotion of Namibian music by NASCAM, the national organisation responsible for that? Seemingly, NASCAM has been incapable to do that. Hence, the fact that its members have been encouraged to redesign their efforts to fit in under 'performing arts'. That is where the problem lies for the council other right-minded artists and I foresee.
Presently every Dick, Tom and musician can submit a proposal under disguise that such an event is a 'performance-oriented' production. How will the Council differentiate in this?
I am also objectively wondering aloud how the Council will deal with the production of music CDs. The tendency is that everyone who thinks he or she has a voice to record such CD's becomes a singer or a musician. In my view such CD's are commercial ventures that need to be paid for by musicians themselves and not the National Arts Council.
In order to clear this pending issue, I suggest the National Arts Council avail funding to NASCAM for music 'performances' because the teems with chance-takers and opportunists. Just saying.
Apparently literature and media also received some applications. There is no doubt in my mind that worthy literature works need to be supported by the National Arts Council, especially works from the previously disadvantaged section of the population.
The question is what criteria will be used to judge meritorious literature works to fit into the education system of the country. It would serve no real purpose if the National Arts Council finance the publication of books with no educational value. In my view, such financial support should be in line with the criteria of NIED otherwise the National Arts Council would definitely flood the market with all sorts of unusable books.
Obviously, the National Arts Council must morally also cater for the open book market in which individuals should qualify for self-publication project funding. This will apply for poetry, novel writing, playwriting and any other form of writing aimed at complementing an evolving national literature.
Another thing for the National Arts Council is the problem of access to venues for rural artists.
Many rural artists have complained they have no proper space and or venue to practice and or display their creative works, an important element for arts and culture development.
Most of the rural centres have village or town halls, which artists cannot readily access either because of exorbitant hire or rent fees or just blatant refusal for them to use such venues by local authorities.
It is thus imperative that the National Arts Council formally negotiates with the local authorities to avail these halls at a reasonable price for artists to use, paid for by the council for artists to use for FREE.
Without such an effort artists and their works will perpetually suffer.
Until next time, sing, paint, dance and write your heart out.
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