By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK STRIKING a balance in promoting all Namibian art disciplines is one of the main goals of the newly appointed director at the Goethe Zemtrum in the capital. This undertaking was publicly declared by German-born director, Christiane Schulte during a one-on-one Art/Life interview last week. Shulte previously worked as a journalist and also did volunteer art-promoting work for about eighteen years at the Katutura Community Arts Center (KACA) before she was appointed in her new post. “I will also be aiming for greater cooperation between Nads and the French Cultural Center with similar aims and objectives that the Goethe Zentrum has, art promotion in Namibia. In this a series of workshops will be held in conjunction with Namibian artists to assist them in becoming self-sustainable,” Christiane Schulte said. She intends publishing a guideline book for Namibian artists by the middle of this year. “Such a book I consider as a necessity to continuously help Namibian artists in their quest for a better dispensation in the local art world. My mandate at the Goethe Zentrum fits in well with our mission of promoting the German language and culture development between Namibia and Germany. Such an inter-cultural exchange between our two countries is highly needed and important,” she said mentioning that she intends bringing a German band to Namibia in April of this year to set the ball rolling. As part of her studies for her Masters Degree Christiane studied languages, literature as well as new and ancient history at university. “I don’t intend wasting money on one-off projects. After all the Goethe Zentrum has a very limited budget to operate on. Only needed projects will be considered favourably to help develop natural artistic talents and skills empowerment. In this I intend attracting more Namibian young people to the center,” she promised. Her vision for the center for the next three years is that it becomes a more user-friendly and vibrant meeting place for artists as well as the Namibian public.