- Local creatives will participate in Switzerland’s huge cultural space
- NACB encouraged to devise a robust talent export strategy
GOSEGO MOTSUMI
The National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) is set to collaborate with its Swiss counterpart on capacitation among arts councils in order to fast track development of the necessary ecosystem to grow the creative sector, Time Out has established.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi disclosed this at the DBS Road Show Excellence Awards in Gaborone over the weekend following the official visit to Botswana of Swiss president Alain Berset’s last week.
Presidential level
“I am happy to report to you before it becomes officially known that in my discussion with my dear friend and Swiss president who just visited, we agreed at presidential level that the National Arts Council of Botswana and its counterpart in Switzerland are going to collaborate,” President Masisi said.
“This means that some of our creatives will be going over to Switzerland and participating in their huge cultural space … We continue to work tirelessly to create a regulatory and policy environment that is conducive for this industry to flourish.
“We continue to allocate significant resources to capacitation of the sector. One key highlight of government’s commitment to transform the creative sector was the establishment of the Arts Council, which is now actively discharging its mandate.”
Roboust talent exchange strategy
After the President spoke, South Africa-based Motswana entertainment celebrity, DJ Fresh, was on cue to advise the National Arts Council of Botswana to devise with a robust talent export strategy.
The legendary deejay, whose real name is Thato Sikwane, said Botswana has a population of 2 million people but the world provides a potential market of 7 billion that creatives can tap into with the help of the Internet.
Current status
Giving an update on the Arts Council, the Minister of Youth, Sports, Gender and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, said after what has been a mammoth task of establishing it, the Secretariat has been set up and a CEO, Shombie Ellis, appointed.
“They are ready to implement arts and culture programmes and projects,” Minister Rakgare noted. “The establishment of the Arts Council has become a big milestone which was realised during the COVID-19 period with a view to changing the landscape of the sector.
“I wish to convey my gratitude to His Excellency for his participation in the debates on NACB Bill as his contribution accelerated the speedy establishment of the council.”