Pinehas K Pinehas

The College of the Arts Namibia (COTA), the leading arts education institution, was founded in 1971 as a classical music conservatoire. This was revealed in an interview with the institution’s rector, Angelika Schroeder.

Schroeder said the college started as a Windhoek conservatory, where classical music was practiced. This was based on an orchestra, where students played different classical instruments. 

Though as years went by, the institution evolved over time into a full-time arts institution offering a wide range of disciplines from music, dance, drama, visual arts, new media, fashion design, radio, and television production. These programmes are open and available for both adults and learners, though there are varying programmes offered under different dynamics.

“The institution is mainly an arts education and training institution. We have two levels of arts education. The first is the general tuition, where kids and adults of different age ranges can come in and practice their skills. We are not particular, as long as you’re fit and able to perform that instrument or at least practice on that instrument. Then we have the other level of education, which is the diploma,” she said.

The institution, which is interestingly placed, not as an autonomous institution rather under the directorate of arts under the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, strives to see student from the institution have a place and a say in the arts and creative industry.

“We make sure that you are quite skilled in going into the community and picking up some experience, whether it’s through class concerts, TV or radio productions out there in the community, whether it’s a very small production. As for fashion, we have exhibitions, whether it’s in the form of a fashion show, art exhibition, or new media design exhibition, as performing arts is definitely much more towards a concert. In the third year, our third-year students, it’s very important that they need to showcase their work,” said Schroeder.

This highlights the institution’s dedication to guiding the students to discover their creative abilities and work on improving and harnessing these skills using real industry exposure.

“They get evaluated by external moderators who come and see their work if they are up to the standard, according to what the curriculum offers. So, once they have done that, in the third year they go out for an internship, which shapes them more, since it is part of our curriculum,” she pointed out.

The institution’s impact is showcased through its students’ achievements, especially through the recent wins at national and international competitions like the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) Shining Light Awards, as well as active participations on platforms such as the Windhoek Fashion Week as well and the Katutura Fashion Week. Such participations and acknowledgements have set the tone of the institution’s credibility.

“Our students, I believe is for the last eight to 10 years, have been taking part in the NDTC, Shining Light Awards, and almost every year our students are winning,” she said.

The College is looking for further growth, hence their motive of introducing NQF Level 6 qualifications as well as creating certificate programs and writing their own handbooks, helping them to improve their structures, and eventually becoming a fully funded, standalone
public institution.

– ppinehas@nepc.com.na