Speaking during a three-day event dubbed, 'Art Xchange Dialogue' on Monday, NACB Director of Arts and Development, Obenne Mbaakanyi challenged artists to play their role by establishing partnerships and turning arts into businesses so as to eke a living. Mbaakanyi revealed that her organisation will be looking to promote and protect the diversity of the creative arts and cultures in the country.
She called on local artists to work together towards a common goal and have Batswana at large embrace the different cultures existent in the country. “As part of our mandate we will also be looking to provide funding to arts companies, organisations and artists through grants,” she said.
Mbaakanyi also said they have their work cut out for them to erase the perceptions lingering over NACB, and assured the artists that things will be done by the book.
“We will also establish district arts council offices in all the districts to cater for local arts and culture practitioners out there in the country so that no one is left behind in the country if they want to nourish their talent,” said Mbaakanyi. For her part, NACB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shombi Ellis said their mandate is to uplift the arts and culture.
Furthermore, Ellis said they plan to create more platforms to discuss matters affecting the industry. She stated that the Art Xchange dialogue was an effort by the NACB committee to provide a platform where they can exchange ideas with local artists and share views on issues affecting the art industry. “Our mandate is to develop and protect the arts and culture industry and these are quite critical.
It is critical for artists to understand what is it that we are doing and why we are doing it,” said Ellis. However, some artists were of the view that the NACB does not offer any glimpse of hope as some promises made by the organisation could not be realised.
The artists felt that there was nothing new but rather just repetition. “This is what has been said to us for many years, but our industry has remained stagnant for many years.
There has not been much growth whatsoever,” said one artist in attendance. The Art Xchange dialogue was meant to discuss matters mostly the visual arts, mural art and digital world among other things.
