Workshop to foster collaboration among creatives on cards

With 2023 in the rearview mirror and the promise of a prosperous 2024 ahead, creatives in Bulawayo are gearing up for a workshop designed to enhance their collaborative skills and foster unity within the creative community.

Organised by the multi-talented creative, Gomez (real name Mehluli Dube), the “Being Collaborative” workshop is scheduled for January 22 at Siziba Youth Centre in Njube Suburb. The event extends an open invitation to dancers, musicians, poets, actors/actresses, and models.

Gomez, renowned for his choreography and acting prowess, envisions the workshop as a catalyst for creating a unified force within the city’s creative space.

“The workshop is all about being collaborative. It seeks to harness the power of working as one. Bulawayo is the most talented city in the region, and it has immense potential if creatives can set aside their egos and eliminate competition among themselves.

“We aim to encourage groups and artistes to collaborate for the growth of our sector and as individuals. Collaborations are impactful, contributing significantly to producing quality content and sharing followers among each other,” explained Gomez.

Subjects to be covered at the workshop include arranging for fundraising drives, catering for programme development, and facilitating an educational thrust.

Gomez believes the workshop holds the power to set the artistic tone for creatives in and around Bulawayo.

“It is critical for creatives to attend this workshop at the early stage of the year as we are trying to approach the year with a different strategy. We believe that being collaborative will change the game in many ways.

“Our goal is to change the culture of merely featuring in a project to being an integral part of it through collaborations. If artistes start believing in each other respectfully, we will conquer this world. I’ve seen many successful artistes taking that same route,” said Gomez.

As the founder and director of ProGomezDuction, Gomez’s artistic influence extends nationally. A recipient of the 2016 National Arts Merit Awards for Best Dancer, he has made notable contributions to successful television productions and worked with prominent figures in the industry. – @MbuleloMpofu.