We
hear a lot of talk about how the arts can “diversify” our economy. In most
cases when I hear someone say that it makes me sad. Yes, artists should be able
to live from their art, but please, let the art come first. Economic
diversification will sort itself out, making it the goal of art is killing the
art before it gets going.
The arts have a far more important role to
play in society. The arts help to define our national identity, our national
psyche. Not just crafts and traditional dance, as some people simplistically
accept, but all dance, theatre, music, literature, sculpture, painting. Art
gives us space to push to the edge of where we now are, to find the other
possibilities, to have space to consider the impossible. Art helps people
develop empathy for others. Art is where human imagination can soar and find
excellence beyond the mundane confines of the economy or the drudgery of daily
survival. Art should be part and parcel of all of our lives, it should not be
out there somewhere away from the community. It should be our community. The
quality of a country’s art says much about the quality of the nation.
Currently
the organisation and the funding for the arts and its development in Botswana are scattered
and haphazard. Some money comes from the Department of Arts and Culture, often
decided by people who have little knowledge in the particular sector of the
arts that they are attending to. Some arts projects are funded by CIPA and the
blank tape levy. Most likely given to people who produce a coherent proposal
and then actually use the money that they received on the project they
proposed. The education of artists is occasionally covered by the Ministry of
Education and Skills Development. The
National Library Service sometimes runs workshops for writers and Thapong helps
painters here and there. Money and help is flowing into our arts community, but
in a disorganised manner that creates one step forward, two steps back, taking
us almost nowhere.
What
about just basic research and information about our arts community? Is there
anywhere a person can go to find out what’s happening in the country in a
certain sector of the arts? A database of arts organisations and artists? I
once was asked to submit information for such a thing, but what became of it I
don’t know. Instead we’re all working away in isolation.
As
for the promotion and development of our artists, to help in their professionalising,
and in marketing and selling their art, I’ve seen very little. I once attended a meeting where Brand Botswana
said they had some interest there as long as the art promoted the country. That
was demoralising, to say the least.
In
general the development, support, funding and promotion of the arts in Botswana
is disjointed and chaotic with no solid clear vision or mission. This could be
solved if we had a well-established and operational arts council.
Let’s
start with the dream—what would be my
dream arts council?
First,
the board would be made up of a wide array of people, all with a strong
commitment to the arts. There would be some experienced members from the
various sectors of the arts, selfless artists with high levels of integrity.
But the board also would have arts administrators, lawyers, experts in public
policy and research, business administrators, people adept at marketing and
promotion, communications and branding, members from the government and people
with expertise in under-represented groups. The main criteria would be that the
people have a commitment to the arts and its excellence.
What would my dream arts council
do?
They
would give grants to artists and arts organisations for projects, development,
and festivals. They would fund degrees in the arts. They would keep a
comprehensive database of the artists in the country and what they’re doing.
They would promote our artists and our art both in the country and abroad. They
would hold workshops on areas of weakness. They would bring the arts and the
community together in innovative and exciting ways. They would link artists and
arts organisations with businesses and private donors looking to support the
arts.
The
arts council would coordinate the arts in a holistic way, pulling all of the
strings together so that they form one strong rope that cannot be broken, and
one that’s pulling in a single direction, instead of the hundreds of ways they
are being pulled at the moment.
Am
I crazy? Is it impossible?
No,
it’s not.
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