Artistes lament lack of funding

sector was deliberately ignoring the arts, and were instead sponsoring other sectors, stalling growth and development of different arts genres.
A young filmmaker, Christensen Mapuranga, said while there has been an increased interest in the arts, as witnessed by the number of new productions that are coming up, this has not been matched by the interest  from the private sector.
“It is increasingly becoming impossible to run a viable arts project because several  companies, save for a few, are not keen on pouring money into the arts.
“Even the banks are not willing to fund the arts sector, citing viability problems. That alone is stalling the growth of the arts sector despite the abundance of talent, not only here in Bulawayo, but elsewhere,” he said during a symposium on the film industry in Bulawayo.
Another artiste, Isaac Mabaleka, who is a choreographer, said it was increasingly becoming difficult to ply one’s trade in the arts, despite one’s qualifications, because there were no takers for the product.
“While something is indeed happening for musicians, who now are getting endorsements and promoters to sponsor them, nothing seems to be happening in other genres, where a lot of talented artistes are now throwing in the towel in frustration and many resort to even working as waiters and waitresses,” he said.
Lack of sponsorship seems to be a major setback for the Intwasa koBulawayo again this year, where festival organisers have had to drop several performing artistes from the region because they don’t have money to pay for their professional performance fees.
Raisedon Baya, Intwasa director, reiterated Mapuranga’s sentiments, saying lack of sponsorship continued to hamper operations for artistes, not only within Intwasa, but across the country.
“As you have already noticed, this year, we have had to drop performing artistes from the region, because we didn’t have money to pay for their immigration procedures, accommodation, airfares and performance fees, to enable them to participate.
“It is the problem that has seen a lot of brilliant arts festivals, folding at a time they should be flourishing. However, we have not lost hope, as we continue to come up with new initiatives and collaborations so that we prop up other arts genres, that rarely get time, space and audience at any other time,” he said.
And true to Baya’s word, this year, the festival will run high with theatrical productions, where seven plays will be premiered, in addition to the launch of seven books, that were written by South African and Zimbabwean authors.
Among the Zimbabwean authors, would be Yvonne Vera’s mother, Erica Gwetai, who will be launching her book titled “Embracing the Cactus”.
Musically, there will certainly be some happy moments when Dudu Manhenga, Alexio Kawara and the Cool Crooners enthrall jazz connoisseurs with some mellow beats tonight.
The festival ends on Saturday.