Culture Deputy Minister Owen Chomanika said on Tuesday that the creative sector needs to be empowered.
He said the sector had potential to contribute significantly to the local economy.
Chomanika made the remarks during the official opening of the second edition of the two-day National Conference for the Creative and Heritage Industries held in Lilongwe.
He said the creative and heritage industries had not been fully tapped despite being rich and diverse in both human capital and heritage aspect.
“The creative and heritage industries need to be fuelled.
“One critical aspect that has always affected the growth of the sector is lack of robust financing opportunities for the players,” he said.
The deputy minister dared delegates to the conference, which ends today, to bring resolutions as well as understand the National Arts and Heritage Act, which President Lazarus Chakwera assented to following the enactment of the bill in Parliament recently.
“This national conference is an opportunity for us to draw consensus on some of the critical issues of concern for the sector.
“The assenting of the National Arts and Heritage Act by the President is a great success and it shows commitment by the government,” Chomanika said.
He said the conference was a reminder that the government had an important role to play in policy processes.
“We should do the right things and make sure that the conference brings nothing but results that will help push the creative sector forward,” Chomanika said.
Acting Executive Secretary for Unesco, David Mulera, described the conference as important in that delegates would deliberate on a number of issues aimed at promoting the creative sector.
“The creative sector is crucial and, so, this conference is there to engage stakeholders on issues arising from the Malawi Cultural Policy,” Mulera said.
The conference, which is running under the theme ‘Empowering the Creative and Heritage Industries for Sustainable Development’, saw participants engaging in sessions such as understanding the National Arts and Heritage Act and validation of the draft regulations for National Arts and Heritage Promotion Fund. Organised by Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture with support from Malawi National Commission for Unesco, the official opening of the conference was spiced up by performances from Galang’ombe and Malawi National Dance Troupe, which served traditional dances such as Mwinoghe.
