Namibia arts council signs new partnership

The partnership was signed with Cosdef Arts & Craft Centre, College of the Arts, the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, Otjiwarongo Arts Centre and the Youth Orchestra of Namibia. The other partners are the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre, Children of Namibia, the National Theatre of Namibia, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation and the Museum Association of Namibia.

The NACN now hopes to engage the partners to support the development of the country’s arts sector.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, NACN chairperson Patrick Sam said the council was designed to deliver financial help by offering grants and bursaries to artists, arts organisations and industry professionals.

“Last year we identified 22 projects and funded them to the tune of about N$1.6m and funded 96 students to the tune of N$1.8m,” local media quoted Sam as saying.

“This is now us crossing over to that territory in formalising our partnerships and saying that collectively we want to support these organisations in order to achieve the development of the creative industries.”

NACN chief arts education officer Gretta Gaspar said funding was central in the development of the country’s arts industry.

“Artists and arts organisations had to prove the need for support by being innovative, working hard and fulfilling the required criteria as prescribed by the NACN,” she said. “It has to be remembered that being an artist does not make you entitled to government assistance; the proof is in your work and the success that you make of it to sustain yourself or your organisation in the future.”

“It is a fact that arts and culture are often side-lined as insignificant activities. Yet they are the pillars that create understanding, appreciation and embrace all people, as well as offer multiple opportunities for job creation and income generation for many creative people, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the nation.”