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This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme “Empowerment through Cultural Initiatives”.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) announced a comprehensive programme for the week-long celebrations in all provinces to mark the 11th edition of Culture Week. The commemorations will start on Saturday and end on Friday next week.
The director of the NACZ Elvas Mari said while all stakeholders in the arts and culture sector were free to engage in different activities to mark the event, NACZ had co-ordinated a programme of activities through its provincial offices in collaboration with various stakeholders.
“Over the years, the national launch and the celebrations themselves have generated a lot of interest from the local community and this year’s celebrations were no exception,” he said.
Mari said the national launch would be subsequently followed by provincial launches countrywide until Friday next week.
Culture Week celebrations are meant to bring together diverse cultural activities for public consumption, provide a platform for the exchange of cultural ideas and views as well as promote cultural activities. It also affords those in the arts industry to showcase their goods and services.
“The celebrations are also meant to bring the arts to the fore and allow artistes and consumers alike to view the issue of empowerment within arts and culture,” he said.
These celebrations also provide an opportunity for Zimbabweans to appreciate the employment opportunities in the arts and culture sector.
“By showcasing their products to the local communities, the week-long activities afford arts groups a marketing platform to the local, regional and international communities,” the director said.
He said as NACZ they therefore urge all Zimbabweans, in particular artistes to harness one key opportunity presented by the celebrations, that is empowerment, using cultural initiatives at their disposal.
“Culture Week provides the much needed space to foster economic growth and support to the sector.”
Mari said they were convinced that the arts sector contributes to the growth of the national economy.
He however said over the years there has been no in-depth research with the view of documenting the cultural industries’ contribution to the economy.
Provincial launches of the Culture Week are set for Monday in Bulawayo, Tuesday in Harare and the Midlands, Wednesday in Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Masvingo, Thursday in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland East.
Online Reporter