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The workshop is about creating mind-frames in artistes to view art as a business, rather than an incidental occupation. Music is not only a form of entertainment but business itself. Female artistes in Zimbabwe are set to benefit from a tea garden programme titled “5by20” whose aim is to equip them with entrepreneurial skills to help them become self-sustaining.
“Tuesday October 6 we present our second tea garden facilitated by Schweppes and titled ‘5by20’.
“This will all be about entrepreneurship with focus on female artistes.
“Last week we had our first tea garden and female artistes who attended can stand testimony to how insightful it was. Old Mutual were the facilitators and their theme was ‘Save Today, Save Tomorrow’.
“Women artists were encouraged to prepare themselves for that time when they retire from the limelight, when age no longer goes with the industry, when what used to shine has qualified for the archives.
“Female artistes are encouraged to participate,” read part of the statement by the festival organisers.
The tea garden programme is being facilitated by Schweppes and will be held at the Zimbabwe German Society in Harare on today (Tuesday).
Just like an arts entrepreneurship course, this social change pushes musicians to find business models within the arts.
American musicians Rihaana and Demi Moore started surviving on car boot sales but have now powered their music careers to multi-million businesses.
Organised by the Zimbabwe Women’s Festival, the programme which is now in its second leg following the first the event held recently, will see various artistes taking part in a training to enhance their business skills.
The workshop is about creating mind-frames in artists to view art as a business, rather than an incidental occupation.
American rapper 50 Cent earlier this year declared bankruptcy over unpaid taxes. Actor Wesley Snipes and Nicholas Cage spent time in prison for the same problem.
This shows that even artists who make a lot of money sometimes fail to run their businesses professionally.
The programme will start at 10 am and run until 2 pm.
The programme comes at a time when some artists are struggling to make ends meet with some notable names living and dying as paupers.
A female artiste, Tryphin Tigere-Foya, lauded the initiative saying it would prepare the female artist for a rainy day.
“This idea should be given the thumbs-up sign it deserves because it makes sure that female artists are equipped with the relevant business skills and also develop an idea as well some level of professionalism when it comes to do their things,” she said.
However, the walls between the arts and entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe are lower and more easily penetrated than ever.
On the international scene, chairwoman of Duke’s music department,Jane Hawkins has urged arts students across genres to understand that their artistic talents can turn them in myriad career directions.
“They don’t have to feel that their only option to continue a career in the arts is to become a famous pianist or photographer,” she said in an interview with BBC recently.
Online Reporter