Frederick Philander
19 December 2008
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Windhoek — The arts and music scenes this year produced some memorable and exciting creative productions, of which Namibian artists as well as the public can be truly proud. More high quality productions on all fronts are expected in the New Year.
Many more people attended entertaining shows and performances as well as exhibitions by well-known and not so well-known visual artists. A number of books were also launched to help create a culture of reading among the nation. A new bi-monthly poetry book, 'Poetree', also saw the light of day. The works of a number of Namibian poets have been featured in the first two editions. It is expected that the magazine will reach new heights next year.
A short film competition was also held with above average productions created by young filmmakers.
The country had also been represented at the Out the Box Puppet Festival in Cape Town for the first time.
Aldo Behrens wrote and produced a box-office hit, 'The Wannabe', to be staged for the last time this year over the weekend at the coast.
Not to mention the many musical presentations in which artists such as Gazza, The Kalaharians and Jericho featured strongly in the public eye locally, whereas musicians such as Gal Val and The Dogg excelled in their music in South Africa.
On the classical music scene, Ernst van Biljon represented the country at an international choral conference in Austria.
Art lecturers at the College of the Arts also made history establishing a branch of a union to look after the rights of artists employed at COTA.
The recently established National Arts Council for the first time also handed out grants to deserving artists and art bodies to improve the qualities of their works.
A high quality circus show was also created by the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in conjunction with students at COTA.
More and better art works are generally expected next year.
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