By Charles Tjatindi
Windhoek
Namibian artists can now look into the future with renewed hope, following the official launch of the National Arts Council, NACN.
The NACN’s mandate as stated in the National Arts Fund Act of 2005, is to control and manage the National Arts Fund in order to promote and develop arts in Namibia.
Its main task will be to administer the National Art Fund, which is primarily sponsored by the Government through the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture.
Following the NACN’s launch earlier this week, potential and talented Namibian artists stand to benefit from the allocation of funds for their activities, provided they fulfil the grants criteria.
The arts council would render support to an array of arts disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, literature and media arts.
Speaking at the official launch of the NACN, the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture, John Mutorwa, welcomed the initiative, saying artists add value to people’s lives by stimulating their senses and enhancing their critical thinking.
He added that artists also enable people to be unique individuals, by providing choices in the way they dress, adorn and entertain themselves.
“Artists bring movement to our physical and spiritual beings and mirror the strength and weaknesses of our society. It is artists who highlight pertinent issues of focus affecting our societies,” said Mutorwa.
The chairperson of the National Arts Council, Vincent Mwemba, said artists have long been left in the dark, and financial support was not forthcoming. The launch of the NACN has therefore been long overdue.
“There was a serious neglect of proper structures and policies and very little regard was given to the arts as a viable profession … artists had to rely mostly on the private sector for assistance or they struggled on their own to showcase their work to any willing audience.”
The production manager at the National Theatre of Namibia, Alama Ulamba, deputises Mwemba on the board.
Other members are Retha-Louise Hofmeyr, Esther Moombolah-/Goagoses, Angelina Sinvula, and well-known playwright and journalist, Frederick Philander. Nicky Marais, a well-known visual artist and arts lecturer, is also a member of the board.
Cultural groups and poets, among them the Onduga Cultural Group, and the Eenganga band, entertained guests at the launch.