Intwasa Arts Festival now in full swing

Cont Mhlanga, a veteran theatre practitioner called artistes to be involved on the business side of the arts.
“We are not selling the arts. The retailing side of arts is dead although we come up with good creative works, we are unable to sell them,” said Mhlanga.
The celebrated playwright said he was saddened to note that the arts business was slow.
“We attended workshops on awareness and development in 1980 and that was and that is where we still are and yet to move over to the next level of making business from the arts,” he said.
Mhlanga said most artists lacked the initiative to take up opportunities in private enterprise related to art.
“Entrepreneurship is self-driven no one will force you to start a business or an entity. You have to think about it yourself and believe that you can succeed.
“We have one art gallery in Bulawayo and I believe that is an opportunity for others to sprout.
“There are many venues countrywide that can be used for arts so we should seize them and use them effectively,” he said.
Another speaker, Sihlangu Dlolo, said groups needed to be holistic in managing their acts and should have departments that include finance, human resources, administration and a marketing section.
“The tendency, where directors are everything to a group should be eliminated and bring in qualified people to run art groups and institutions,” he said.
Dlodlo is a marketing manager with a Bulawayo bakery and was trained as an artist at Amakhosi Theatre. He said artists should stop seeking donations and sponsorship but rather seek partnerships with corporate entities and other potential partners.
“I deal with artists on almost a daily basis as they come to my office seeking sponsorship and donations but that is wrong.
“They should come to my company and tell me what benefit the company will gain in partnering them,” said Dlodlo.
He said many companies were rebranding and were willing to engage artists but urged them (artists) to come up with creative ideas that will market such entities.
The event was funded by the British Council and Intwasa, and attended by artistes across various genres from Bulawayo.
A workshop for women artists was also held in the city, with a show by a Kenyan-based Somali traditional music act Gargar from Bismillahi was held yesterday evening at the Rainbow Hotel.
A play called “The Comeback” also premiered at the Bulawayo Theatre yesterday evening.