Bakwena, who is the director of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, has called on the new administration to formulate a clear strategy for revitalising the creative sector. He said the local creative sector has remained stagnant for a long time and the new government needs to hit the ground running by recognising the creative sector as an important cog towards solving the high employment rate besieging the country. “It is very important for a country like ours to define the sector that is arts and culture. With the new government in place, we are hoping for the best in the creative industry. This sector has implications for essential job creation, cultural tourism and further development of the Botswana cultural identity through cultural hubs and heritage sites administered by the Botswana National Museum,” Bakwena told Arts&Culture. “The creative sector should be supported and be encouraged to sustain itself. Batswana have talents that are largely untapped and overlooked. The creatives are simply not helped to find a way to monetise and sustain themselves as small business. The new government should prioritise enabling the sector and its people to organise themselves by developing human resources in areas such as arts administrators, curators, promoters, engineers, designers, research, filmmakers, fashion designers, intangible heritage, monuments, etc,” Bakwena added.
He called on the government to develop technical skills by investing in artists, especially in areas such as craftsmanship in terms of perfecting their skills and creating innovative market opportunities locally and internationally. Furthermore, Bakwena said the government needs to consider building infrastructure such as galleries, theatres, recreational facilities and performance centres. He says there are community centres in villages around the country, which are not utilised. “These could be renovated to suit the community’s area of interest in the arts. The centres could be, for instance, a theatre hall or studios for artists or craft makers or other areas of interest. I think it will reduce the cost as the old buildings will be renovated, not built. This idea could also generate income for the cultural community because the hall could be rented out. The profit could be used to sustain a Community Art Project,” he said. Additionally, he said the new government should also consider training and developing business management skills for artists.
Moreover, Bakwena is of the view that Botswana prides herself on a rich and strong cultural identity which the world needs to know. “Batswana have traditional roots from music and legends, such as the late Ratsie Setlhako with his intangible knowledge of composing traditional music. We have a lot to showcase, from traditional and contemporary to modern. This could sell Botswana and bring in foreign exchange. We also have strong visual arts and craft presences. Currently, artists are making a living in arts, they only need to develop better structures,” he explained. He also stated that places such as Oodi Weavers in Kgatleng should be supported to harness their potential, further adding that Botswana’s heritage could become a critical part of enhancing cultural tourism.
“Regional museums administer and preserve the collections, exhibitions and documents which have the significant historic meaning of the morafe. The history is more on the origins, cultural identity, chieftainship and conflict resolutions. The government needs to advance and focus on the development of the regional museum in specific areas such as infrastructure, human resources, curating, documentation and digitalisation. These kinds of initiatives will result in job creation for the community, which will reduce reliance on government. The community will also be encouraged to set up businesses e.g. café, the museum curio shop,” he noted. On the other hand, he said Botswana deserves to have a Monument Park, which would be the pride of Botswana’s culture, showcasing the lives and stories of those who have sacrificed their lives for Batswana from yesteryears. As a means of attracting more visitors to Gaborone as the main hub of activity in Botswana, Bakwena suggested that there could be a bi-annual Arts Festival with floats to represent regions, different arts, the fauna and flora of Botswana, a parade with bands and a finale. He explained that the parade could be bolstered by stalls, exhibitions, and other activities. It could be a means to bring Botswana further recognition as well as bringing together countrywide creatives in a huge celebration.
