By Frederick Philander Bank Windhoek on Tuesday formally launched another arts partnership with the Omba Arts Gallery at a press conference. Last month the same bank clinched a lucrative partnership with the Namibia National Arts Gallery. The arts institution will henceforth be known as the Bank Windhoek Omba Arts Gallery and exhibitions, and events taking place at the gallery will form part of the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival. “Bank Windhoek’s partnership with the Omba Arts Gallery is tacit proof that Bank Windhoek is committed to the arts in Namibia and that this partnership demonstrates that we live up to our slogan of Together we do Better,” said Marlize Horn, Senior Manager of Bank Windhoek’s Marketing and Corporate Communications Services. According to the chief organizer of the Bank Windhoek Festival, Aldo Behrens, the partnership agreement with the Omba Arts Gallery is worth N$84ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 per annum for five years. “The Omba Arts Trust is a non-profit Namibian initiative that aims to contribute to the development of the Namibian crafts sector through the marketing and promotion of a uniquely Namibian identity in crafts and design,” said Karin Roux, chairperson of the Omba Trust board on Tuesday. “Bank Windhoek is continuously striving to promote arts and crafts in Namibia through the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival, and the partnership between the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival and the Omba Arts Gallery will not only promote crafts in Namibia but also establish a platform for crafters to display their works,” said Marlize Horn. Since 1998, the number of people visiting the Omba Arts Gallery per year has increased to 38ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 981 and it is becoming more popular. “The Craft sector offers opportunities for job-creation and skills-training and is ideal for the development of small enterprises,” asserted Karin Roux. Marlize Horn also announced at the press conference that Bank Windhoek will once again be the main sponsor of the ATKV Pluimpie awards. “This will be the eleventh year that Bank Windhoek will be sponsoring the ATKV Pluimpie awards, which will form part of the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival. During the month of March 2007, arts enthusiasts can look forward to a variety of different performances and exhibitions,” she said. Horn also strongly denied that her bank is clinching partnerships with basically all existing arts promoting organizations with the aim of the bank monopolizing the arts and culture scene in the capital. “It is a question of getting the best suitable venues to stage the activities of the Bank Windhoek Festival throughout the year in a sensible way and manner,” she concluded. The March programme of the Bank Windhoek Festival are: – Herman Mbamba’ Arts Exhibition at the National Arts Gallery of Namibia from 20 February to 12 March 2007. – Socratic Society of Namibia opening ceremony at the New UNAM Library on 1 March 2007 at 18h00. – Bank Windhoek ATKV Pluimpie Awards at the Kalahari Sands on 8 March 2007 at 19h30. – Fu’Jazz – Jazz and Jazz-Fusion events featuring various local jazz bands taking place at the Warehouse Theatre form 11 – 25 March 2007 at 19h00. – Verskombuis – Afrikaans poetry presented by George Weideman at the National Library on 13 March 2007 at 19h30. – (Photo Vernon Munnik) – SjordÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚© – Vernon the Dream Catcher sings Country at Studio 77 from 28 to 30 March 2007 at 13h15. – The Magic of Opera and Operetta – Classical music performance taking place at the NTN on 30 and 31 March 2007 at 20h00. – The Desert Painters – an exhibition of Malerinnen der WÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¼ste taking place at the Woermannhaus Gallery in Swakopmund on 31 March 2007.