By Sabina Elago
WINDHOEK– To share experiences, voice different opinions and finding a common ground on art matters, ARTNam in collaboration with the Franco Namibia Cultural Centre (FNCC) will host an Art Talk next Tuesday at FNCC Cinema.
Art Talk is a platform by the FNCC to get those who carry art matters close to their hearts to exchange ideas and develop agendas for the advancement of the arts in Namibia across the various arts disciplines. It is themed, The Media and Us, An Open Discussion on Cultural and Entertainment Reporting in Namibia, a subject matter that is close to the selling artists, those who have step out of their studios, rehearsal rooms or dance classes to present their work to a wider buying public. Ernst Herma, an event organiser from ARTNam, says the objective of The Media and Us (us being the artists) is to enter into discourse with the media, that is radio, television, newspaper and IT platform, with the aim to better understand each other’s position. “For it is no secret as much as the artists depend on the media to sell their products, it is similarly vital for the media to draw from the pool of artistic content and activity available to fill their entertainment supplements and radio waves to please their clients,” says Herma.
He adds that the talk is part of the aspiration to raise awareness within the media to improve on critical and substantiated cultural reporting. Representatives of the media and media stakeholders will be given opportunity to present policies related to their cultural and entertainment sections, if available, and to share their editorial, commercial and organisational aspirations as well as constraints with the plenum. “Selected representatives will be requested to make presentations and will thereby, hopefully, prepare the ground for fruitful discussion. And you never know where there are artists involved and a potential audience one might be witness to a surprise presentation or two,” notes Herma.
Artists from across all disciplines are encouraged to partake, as are members of the general public, who have an interest in the subject matter. For further information contact Herma, 081 122 3709 or email at eherma@afol.com.na.
ARTNam is a voluntary organisation founded recently with the aim to improve on the business parameters within the arts industry, and to further the status of the individual artist in Namibia.