By Frederick Philander
WINDHOEK
Excitement exploded among artists on Wednesday evening with the formal announcement that they at long last qualify for direct government funding to pursue their creative crafts and careers.
The announcement was made during the launch of the Namibian Arts Council that was established in 2005.
At the same time two diehard progressive theatre groups Art/Life spoke to were cautiously optimistic.
“Hombrewed Productions welcomes this development as a step in the right direction, hoping that false hope is not created with this announcement.
“One can understand that most artists are suspicious due to the fact that they have been without any real government financial support since the dawn of Independence,” said the proprietor of Homebrewed Productions, Vickson Hangula.
Committed Artists of Namibia, the oldest active community theatre group in the country, by way of its organizing secretary also welcomed this step.
“CAN has been in the forefront for a better dispensation for all Namibian
artists over many years, something we had been vilified and crucified for by some of those cultural groups that have in the past preferentially benefited through questionable means from the arts department of the then ministries of education,” said Felicity Celento on behalf of CAN.
Hangula expressed his unreserved concern about the fact that no monetary figures were mentioned during the announcement.
“One has to bare in mind that the National Arts Council started its activities with a measly budget of N$200 000 the first year, a worrying thought if the new development is anything to go by.
“Don’t call me pessimistic, but I have over the years learned many lessons. Anything is possible in the arts and culture sector of our country, judging by past performances,” he said.
According to Celento, Namibian artists are some of the most financially neglected groups of people in Namibia.
“We have always argued that it was the Namibian Government’s moral obligation to financially support the development of arts and artists in this country.
“Now that day has dawned. “In this respect all eyes will be on the National Arts Council by the public, all Namibian artists and art promoting bodies.
“To the NAC we say, don’t make promises that you cannot keep because of government financial constraints,” she said.
In Hangula’s opinion the announcement is a step in the right direction.
“It came basically too late because many practising artists have over the years thrown in the towel due to frustration and found themselves other careers. I think the arts fraternity has lost many such worthy artists. To lure them back to the creative world will cost more than probably N$5,000 per year as a grant from the NAC. Many hopes will be dashed if it will be the case,” he said.
Celento further said that her organization will continue to be steadfast in its decisions whether to apply for such funding or not..
“The prerogative to apply or not to apply for government funding will be CAN’s. We learned over the years that certain government officials have identified and stigmatized certain progressive groups as too critical and radical elements not worthy of tax money.
“|We would like to think that this sort of argument is now something of the past and that such elements learn to accept that not all worthy artists can be bought over or changed with regard to their declared policies that have guided them over the years,” Celento concluded