Chronicle Editor
ARE the arts still as mysterious as many want us to believe? Are they the undiscovered field that still needs another David Livingstone to “discover” it for us? A friend once said that the arts are like an unfenced or unprotected maize field in the community or that fruit tree that just germinates and grows in a no-man’s land in the village. A tree whose fruits nobody can claim as his or hers.
No one can regulate who walks into the field and do that or not do that. No one can govern how the fruits from this tree will be harvested or who has the right to eat from that tree. This view might not be 100 percent correct about our arts sector in Zimbabwe but it cannot also be quickly dismissed as there are some elements of truth in it.
Anyone can walk into the sector now, with zero experience, zero approval, and start working. Anyone can decide to be an actor, a photographer, a musician or a promoter any day they so wish. There are no qualifications needed. There are no processes to be followed.
There are no systems or structures one has to go through, no systems and structures that protect already established artistes — especially from dubious or fly-by-nights conmen or women. This why at the moment even corporates who have no business running creative events are now organising these themselves. Try running a pharmacy when you are not a pharmacist or try and be a soccer agent from nowhere and see what happens.
The biggest weakness of the arts sector is the absence of systems or structures that control and govern the sector. I know a lot might be quick to say the National Arts Council and the department of arts in the parent ministry are there to do that. Some might even go to the extent of pointing out that without registering with the Arts Council of Zimbabwe you cannot operate in the country.
Well, ideally it should be like that but it is not true. However, this article is not about the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe or the parent ministry but about the absence of other structures, mostly non-Governmental structures or institutions, that support Government efforts in putting some order and helping the sector pull together and consequently giving it some semblance order.
The parent ministry and the National Arts Council cannot be everywhere, they cannot oversee every facet of the sector. The parent ministry and the National Arts Council can not have eyes everywhere. They need assistance. They need help. This is where structures like associations, unions and other bodies come in handy. And the question is do we have these structures and systems.
The parent ministry and National Arts Council will not push for the protection of artistes against exploitation. They are not unions or associations. It is up to unions and associations to be fighting daily for the rights of artistes — right to be employed, right to dignified remuneration, right to safe working conditions, rights to artistic freedom and other things. Of course, there are a couple of associations and a union for musicians that are there — we will not talk about the briefcase ones.
The existing associations need empowering — they need resourcing so they can spread and cover the whole country and not just Bulawayo and Harare. And where there are no associations or unions artistes need to be encouraged to form them — for their own good.
Donors and embassies are known to influence the direction of the arts. This is usually shown with the type of activities they support. They need to be seen supporting associations and unions too. Donors need to be supporting systems and structures, if they seriously want to see sustainable development in the sector.
For a while now our focus has been empowering individuals, which is not bad or wrong, but unfortunately, we have, deliberately or otherwise, ignored institutions. But we must never forget that we are now living in a very mobile environment.
Individuals are always moving, chasing for something better. Institutions and systems will not go anywhere. They will always be here. Stronger systems and stronger institutions will build a strong and more sustainable arts sector.
Online Reporter