M'kariko Amagulu
31 October 2008
The 4th Session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation between Namibia and Botswana was recently held at the coast, where delegations from the two countries met to agree on various areas of cooperation in which the area of arts and culture was also deliberated and agreed on.
Cultural representatives attending the commission expressed their concern over the lack of or little attention and seriousness that government gives the arts and culture sector. They also expressed their concern over the lack of information sharing on agreements and policies on arts and culture, which could be used in the further advancement of the sector.
It was also stated that the development of the arts sector could enhance the generation of income for people that produce visual art, crafts and live off cultural arts expression forms, therefore alleviating poverty and thus meeting the goals of the National Development Plans (NDP), Vision 2030 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
It was argued that there is a need for the two governments to begin looking at the impact that arts and culture play in overall economies, which is an issue that is being overlooked. Delegates were asked by an arts representative where tourism or any other sector would be without arts and culture. They were also informed that artistically talented people could grow into creative occupations such as architecture, communications, marketing, graphic, interior and fashion design and other new media art fields.
Therefore the enhancing and supporting of arts and culture forms would not just be for leisure or entertainment as assumed, but could be income-generating skills and expertise that can develop. This would only work through the support of arts and culture education, funding support, skills development and opening up of buyer markets for the various goods and services provided by the arts and culture sector.
The delegates heard that currently there is a draft plan of action in the culture sector which includes the arts sector that was a result of a Botswana/Namibia culture sector meeting held in Windhoek in February 2007 and would run until 2010. Various areas of coope-ration in arts include the mainstreaming of organisational structures in arts and culture, capacity building, participation in exhibitions and performing art festivals, training of artists and arts technicians to enhance cultural and arts tourism.
It was also mentioned that the plan of action aimed to promote technical assistance, information sharing on activities and policies and to promote the integration of people with disabilities into the arts and culture programmes by 2010 and to follow up progress of all areas of cooperation with regular progress report meetings between the two countries.
To date progress on this plan of action has been minimal, with the John Muafangejo Arts Centre being one institution that has actively been making use of the agreements and implementing some of the areas mentioned.
The two governments were urged to intensify their cooperation and research on art and culture by exchanging information, familiarisation visits, materials and expertise, exhibitions, education programmes, listing of cultural heritage sites, museums, use of arts and culture in creating awareness towards HIV and AIDS. The Commission further pushed for the promotion of bilateral trade in arts and crafts and the integration of people with disabilities in arts and culture programmes.
The commission took note of the ongoing cooperation and urged the two governments to finalise the memorundum of understanding on youth, sport, arts and culture and the Botswana/Namibia Culture Plan of Action on the arts and culture sector. The commission noted that Namibia would take the lead on the conclusion of the MoU and plan of action to be signed by February 2009, after which implementation should begin.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 New Era. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
