By Sam Banda Jnr & Esnart Tembo
Regional Director and Unesco Representative to the Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa Nisha Indica has said artists are key to development.
Nisha has, therefore, said there is a need to improve the status of artists and promote creative freedoms.
She said this during the opening of the two-day National Conference for Creative and Heritage Industries at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.
She delivered her speech virtually.
Nisha applauded Malawi for formulating the National Arts and Heritage Act, which President Lazarus Chakwera assented to after the enactment of the bill by Parliament recently.
“I am hoping that this direction will not only focus on revivalism of traditional arts but will also look at bridging the divide between tradition and the world today and at bridging the inter-generational gaps in the appetite for and taste of art,” Nisha said.
Unesco has been assisting the government in activities such as the review of the Culture Policy and formulation of the National Arts and Heritage Act.
Meanwhile, special presidential adviser on creative industries Q Malewezi, who is a renowned poet, has called for more awareness on the issue.
He said this during a session on understanding the National Arts and Heritage Act.
He said the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, through Department of Arts, had to intensify awareness programmes.
“Many young people are into the creative sector and they are pushing their works but many are not aware of what the National Arts and Heritage Act is all about.
“They need to know it and, then, people out there also need knowledge on this,” Malewezi said.
On Tuesday, during the opening of the conference, which ended Wednesday Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Owen Chomanika said the ministry would commercialise creative and heritage industries so that they could contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Chomanika urged industry players to utilise provisions of the National Arts and Heritage Act for them to improve their socio-economic status.
“The law that we have now should meet the expectations of the people,” he said.
Malawi National Commission for Unesco acting Deputy Executive Secretary David Mulera called on the ministry to ensure that artists are familiar with provisions of the Act, adding that the Cultural Policy needed review.
One of the ceramic artists, Rhoda Thomson, has since welcomed the National Arts and Heritage Act, saying artists expect a regulated industry.
