Arts council urges compliance

Andrew Moyo

The move by Government to avoid public gatherings of more than 100 people as part of measures to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus has sent shockwaves across the local arts sector.

In an industry that depends on numbers, the call creates a tricky scenario where events have to be canceled, with some being scaled down.

While this response has been welcomed by many, arts practitioners are caught up in a fix as they are set to endure a dry spell for the next few weeks.

Tempting as it might be to resist Government’s restriction, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) is urging the sector to comply.

“As National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, difficult as it maybe, we call upon all stakeholders, stockholders, players and consumers in the cultural and creative industries to step up and comply to the response measures set by the Government,” said NACZ director Nicholas Moyo in a statement.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 knows no time frame and knows no numbers, as industry players we need to think of the people and not events.

“If players are to put people first and cancel, suspend or postpone events that had been planned already, we will go a long way in contributing in a positive way to the national response.”

NACZ has called for the cancellation of all events that were meant to take place within the time frame set by Government and these include activities associated with World Theatre Day.

“This is obviously a sad chapter in the arts business in this country as artists and promoters alike will find themselves in a precarious situation as livelihoods are threatened,” added Moyo.

Meanwhile, the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) Indaba by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation has been shelved while the three National Art Galleries (Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare) have been shut down.

Other event organisers are being creative, with numerous gigs, including Jah Prayzah’s album launch, being streamed live on social media platforms.

Several leisure outlets have scaled down operations, with numerous posters highlighting that only 100 patrons are to be accommodated at a time.

Some have even taken the “strictly by invite” approach as they look to contain the numbers coming to their establishments.