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Nkululeko Nkala
FOR years we have been crying/screaming for a stand-alone arts ministry and if not one, at least a functional one.
Be it under sports or even hidden under rural development, arts is big business in other countries and contributes significantly to economies.
Look at South Africa, Nigeria and the United States to name a few. It goes without saying that this week when news of a reshuffle filtered we in the arts eagerly waited for the good news of getting not just a stand-alone ministry but an able minister as well.
The reshuffle happened, sadly again there is no stand-alone arts ministry but the upside is that we have been divorced from the Ministry of Rural Development and Preservation of Culture.
We are back to the ministry once headed by Andrew Langa which failed to liven up the arts sector. However, this time around the arts are under the energetic Makhosini Hlongwane.
Will he deliver us to the Promised Land? I dona��t know, but there is hope because he somewhat has a rich arts background from his dance with the media.
I remember when he officiated an event at The National Art Gallery in Bulawayo early this year when he said all the right things and had us high on anticipation. Now he is the man tasked to mind us.
What should Minister Hlongwane do?
Do real consultations, replace most of those in positions of power that have no grounding or understanding of the industry.
We have dreams for the arts, we see a booming music industry and a Hollywood of our own.
No Government official has that blueprint. Yes, those in Harare are nearer to the ear but also listen to whispers from the rest of the country. Would it not be nice to at least have a director of the arts arm and administrators that actually can run art?
We are not entertainment. Honourable Makhosini Hlongwane, we are a business, we feed into all ministries and we know how we can all benefit from them and them from us.
We need to take stock of our creative industries. From the individual artiste to the association in cities, National Arts Council and the ministry. Let us not change the handwriting but also change the answers.
Where is the Cultural Policy? What are we doing for the arts as a nation? What could the arts possibly do for us? Why is our National Arts Council not like all other National Arts Councils to actually help the arts? Why are we not benefiting from importing and exporting art?
Art just like sport is important. We need our own arts games or command art if you like. We need to deliberately export our culture.
The only time we are highlighted is when we are used as entertainment for big sporting events. We still have hope. Make us proud minister. We are counting on you.
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Online Reporter