There are no free lunches in the arts anymore!!!

Many people are not willing to pay for arts events. In fact most are shocked when asked to do so when they attend arts events. It is common to find many people preferring to buy drinks, food, and others things found around the venue and still not comfortable in paying for the actual artistic performance. A lot of us see no reason why we should pay. We believe our being there is good enough. But crowds, no matter how big they are, do not add value to the artist and his performance, particularly when they are not prepared to pay for the performance. What would be the value of screaming and shouting and dancing for hours in front of a big crowd when in the end one goes home empty handed? My belief is that when an arts event takes place it must always be the artists that runs to the bank smiling. But the reality in most cases is that it is the service providers that run to the bank while the artiste is left clutching nothing but fading dreams. Frankly speaking the artistes must benefit most from the products of his or her sweat.  

For so long the sector has been struggling to portray itself as a business sector. A sector with some significant influence on the country’s economy. A sector with a reasonable income. For some time now the struggle has been about turning the arts from just being recreational to a serious business sector. Many artistes have been urged to treat their art activities as business ventures. There have been attempts to re-label the sector as the creative industry. The creative business. And we cannot talk business without alluding to the economics of the said activities. The reason why most business sectors have refused to see the arts as a business has mainly been because the sector has failed to show concrete figures of how much they make per month or per year. And without these figures it has been difficult to convince a lot of people about the income generating abilities of the arts.

The arts are not free. That is what we need to take out of the minds of many people, especially many of us. When artistes say they need support they don’t mean audiences must just come to watch them for free, even family members, relatives and friends of the artistes must pay. Proper support should be both financial and moral. Recently some friends of mine were looking at the Intwasa program and their concern was about the gate charges. The festival charges range from $1 to $10 per show. However, there are about 31 free events – almost half the events at the festival. Also the festival has special rates for students and artistes. While the festival has reasonable support from partners such Hivos, Delta Beverages, Africalia Belgium, Culture Fund, Plan Zimbabwe, Habitat Africa Safaris and National Youth Development Trust to name but a few it still needs to generate some funds for the running of  Intwasa throughout the year, more so now that Intwasa has activity taking place from January to December.  The gate charges are one way of fundraising and meant to help support these other activity that will in-turn add value to future editions of the festival. So if we seriously want to talk sustainability in the arts then surely the public aught to subsidies some of these activities by paying at the gate. Lets also not forget that our partners will not always be there.

The festival strongly believes that art is not, and should not be free. Even the festival’ s 31 so called free shows are being paid for by our partners. In essence they are not free. People, especially those with the arts at heart, must get it out of their minds that arts events, Intwasa arts festival included, are free events. The arts are not for free but a business.  And a serious one for that matter. 

INTWASA FESTIVAL 2011 VENUES ANNOUNCED

The countdown to the multi disciplinary spectacle continues with 13 days to go. Intwasa Festival 2011 which kicks of on the 19^th of September and ends on the 25^th of September 2011 will this year use 7 venues spread around the city which will appeal to different audiences and tastes. The theme for this year’s festival is Art without Boundaries an expression that fits the arts disciplines that are featured in this years programming.

The festival director Mr Baya has said that all the venues have been confirmed for the 65 events. Major highlights to look forward at the different venues are the films that are going to be showcased at the John Knight Cinema at the National Art Gallery. This year the City Hall Car Park has been secured and as usual the main attraction will be the Chibuku stage sponsored by Delta Beverages, at the Car Park. Music revellers are going to be treated to musical performances from foreign and local artists. Unlimited Connect Centre and the National Art Gallery will be hosting several workshops in visual arts, poetry and administration. The Bulawayo Theatre Club will play host to theatre productions from seasoned writers, artists and production houses including some productions from outside the country. There is also the Newsday stage which is the Small City Hall another venue which will prove a hit to the audiences as it will host top acts from within Zimbabwe and abroad. People must prepare themselves to have a hearty laugh at the Amakhosi Elite 400 as it will house a comedy show during the festival. The grand Horizon restaurant and bar will host spectacular poetry and musical performances chief are among them a Jazz concert featuring the best in Zimbabwean music and a foreign artist. The arts without boundaries themed festival will go beyond the CBD and extend the fun to the western areas as usual with dance and theatre at the Stanley Hall and Njube Hall, Njube Hall is a first for Intwasa and its part of an extension drive that will see the festival move to other locations and even other parts of the country in the near future.

This year’s festival will see artists, facilitators and acts from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Swaziland, Kenya, Wales, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The Intwasa 2011 full programme is ready and due for release on Friday, watch this space for more info.

CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR YOUNG ARTISTS EXHIBITION

The arts in Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo are varied in their forms,
imagery and emphasis and are an accurate reflection of the complexity of
the region’s history and culture.  The peoples are developing their own
skills and artistic directions.  This has been greatly assisted by
government which has actively encouraged the promotion of the arts through
the adoption of progressive policies.

As we embark on this years Intwasa (spring) Arts Festival koBulawayo.  The
spring is a time for budding of young and old trees, young and old artists
come together to celebrate a season of joyous occasion after the slumber
of winter.  Winter were ideas are brewed and mellowed,  then Intwasa with
thematic processes comes in breaking new ground and  new shoots come up
ushering in ‘Art without boundaries’.  The new shoots with their clean
green colour are mesmerizing to behold.  These new shoots are the young
visual artist who will be saying statements in this year’s creative
celebrations.  These young artists show all the distinctive features of an
artistic trend; they form a group of artists on firm ground, well on their
way.  They are embarking on a long journey, with an established tradition
in their kit, with this equipment their safety during the voyage (life as
an artist) is ensured.  These young artists bring in a new signature, an
entirely new visual language.

During Intwasa artists create new bridges which are indispensable.  Young
artist have a seeking attitude striving for knowledge at times with or
without a sense of responsibility but the end results is that contours of
life are built.  Young artists tend to venture to tread more on holy
ground and dangerous paths because of their vigour and enthusiasm.

Young people play a pivotal role in society.  They are today’s leaders in
their own role.  It is in this mind that the Intwasa Arts Festival
koBulawayo is approaching you the young visual artist with the hope that
you will participate in this year’s visual art exhibition – Art Without
Boundaries.  Bring your work be it sculpture, painting, drawing, textile,
print, batik, pottery etc. to the gallery before the 10th of September 2011

INTWASA SHORT STORY COMPETITION SHORTLIST

Last week Intwasa Arts Festival announced the shortlist for its English Short Story Competition. The list was impressive. The judges were very impressed by the entries and this is what they had to say: The Intwasa Short Story Competition has become a significant event on the literary calendar of Zimbabwe. This year there were 104 entries to the senior Intwasa Short Story Competition– for the first time named the Yvonne Vera Award to honour the late award-winning writer from Bulawayo.

The entries had myriad themes and storylines and came from both well-known writers and from those submitting their first short story. Many were of a very high standard – it was certainly extremely difficult to choose the fifteen short-listed entries. There have been excellent submissions to the short story competition in previous years, with memorable stories from the winners: Thabisani Ndlovu, Bryony Rheam, Chaltone Tshabangu, Novuyo Tshuma and Bongani Ncube, but the distinctive feature this year was the number of entries from Zimbabweans outside the country’s borders, with entries from as far away as Greece and the USA, and many from South Africa. And the rest were from across the whole of Zimbabwe, the competition has certainly spread geographically from entries being mainly for Bulawayo writers.

The judges eventually chose the fifteen short-listed stories shown below. The list includes several writers who have been published before, including Diana Charsley, Ivor Hartmann, Blessing Musariri and Emmanuel Sigauke, as well as last year’s winner Bongani Ncube, but there are also many new names on the list. Several of these look likely to become leading exponents of creative writing in Zimbabwe in the future.

The stories were judged on the quality of the writing and the quality of the story, and the judges were generally impressed in both areas. One area that does need improvement from several writers is the checking of work before submission – writers should try to get someone else to look through their story before submission to ensure the language is correct and that there are no inconsistencies in the storyline.

The shorlisted stories, not in any particular order, are:

1.     Ango Leonard’s Game, by Mercy Dliwayo

2.     A Mouse Amongst Men, by Ivor Hartman

3.     A Moment of Madness, by Thamsanqa Never Ncube

4.     A Mixed Multitude, by Philip Chidavaenzi

5.     One, by Blessing Musariri

6.     Chanting Shadows, by Mbonisi Pilani Ncube

7.     The Sound of Silence, by Lilian Dube

8.     Memories of a past life, by Bongani Ncube

9.     The

Last Place

on Earth, by Kathryn Truscott

10.   Night Riding, by Sarah Norman

11.   Mr Pothole, by Diana Charsley

12.   Poor Signal, by Emmanuel Sigauke

13.    Ndebele is the new colored, by Tswarelo Mothobe

14.   Times Change, People Change, by Tanya Hunt

     15  Radio Culture is dead, by Elizabet

Women in Film

INTRODUCTION.

Film Production in Africa has long been viewed as a field specifically meant for men with very few women involved in the technical aspect of film production. This has led to the industry being dominated by men, marginalizing women in the process.

IBhayiskopo means Film/Movie. The word is township lingo for Bioscope. The word was popular during the 60’s and early 90’s in Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND.

IBhayiskopo Film Project is a program biased towards young women. The project is based in Bulawayo and strives to capacitate and empower young women who wish to pursue a career in film production. It is a development meant to address the sex divide that had seen the film industry in Zimbabwe for years being considered a single sex domain.

Ibhayiskopo Project is operating on Zero Budget. The project is in the process of looking for funding to produce short films and documentaries as part of students’ practical assignments.  Facilitators have been helping the project on a voluntary basis.

The training program started in March 2011. The first 15 students will graduate in November. The students are from different backgrounds. Many are not able to pay fees and are only buying stationery and catering for their own transport.

The project will be running film workshops during Intwasa festival koBulawayo. Aspiring filmmakers can register for the workshops at Intwasa offices. 403 LAPF House.

8^th Avenue/Jason Moyo St

.

Festivals and Schools

Arts festivals are platforms for showcasing various artistic performances and arts products. Most works brought to festivals are top of the shelf products from local and international artistes. Through art we come to see reflections of our aspirations and fears and we interface with ourselves from various angles as perceived and interpreted by artists. Art is about our humanity in all its complexity, helping us to make sense of the world around us. We see the role of art in learning as a central one, and one which also relates to the holistic growth and development of the child. Art is a crucial part of social, emotional, and cognitive development. Children continuously reorganize and integrate their experience through art, to form their sense of self and worldview.

As humans, children tend to find ways to help themselves through their inherent struggles. They often do this through aesthetic productions such as art and drawing, music, storytelling, poetry, and dance/movement. Through these creative expressive arts, they find a way to release their emotions, divert themselves from their problems, relax their minds and bodies, and get in touch with themselves and others. A few examples of creative/expressive arts therapies follow. The creative art process responds to the created products as reflections of an individual’s development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns, and conflicts. While painting or drawing, one can express him/herself nonverbally, become more self-conscious, and reconcile emotional conflicts.

All mankind shares the ability to be imaginatively creative but children find themselves cut off from their creative selves and denied spaces where they can showcase their creativity. Adults, both at school and home tend to take over children’s creative spaces. It is in this light that I realise how crucial it is for young people to be exposed to festival performances and exhibitions.

Exposing school pupils to artwork may not just enrich their cognitive, social, and emotional abilities but is also therapeutic. It is upon this finding that I believe festivals must have spaces within their programming specifically for children and young people. It is good that young people be afforded an opportunity to be part of festivals and develop a sense of belonging and ownership. Children and young people are tomorrow’s adult audiences which we are missing at many a performance today. These should not be lost but should be nurtured. 

All children should be offered equal opportunities to progress and develop, and should have equal access to that provision. Not only are these young people to be seen at festivals as consumers but they should be encouraged to be exhibitors, performers and technical assistants and volunteers. This will help boost confidence in them while giving them the necessary skills and experience for the future. School authorities are hence urged to support pupils and make sure that they respond positively to invitations that are sent out by festival organizers for events.

For instance, they are specific plays that are in school syllabi and these can be showcased in theatre performances to help students consume a relevant product, and stimulate discussions around particular themes and topics. This year Intwasa Arts Festival will be running some of the plays which are part of the ZIMSEC English syllabi. It will be interesting to see how pupils respond to these performances.

Schools that are within the area particular festivals take place and have facilities should be partners with these festivals. This will make sure that performances are at the doorsteps of their pupils who are keen to be part of these festivals. Intwasa Arts Festival 2011 promises to be a feast for the young ones. A number of competitions and workshops in writing, drama and dance have been lined up. I personally can’t wait to see young people fret and strut on stage during this year’s edition. Okhekhe abaze ngobunengi.

           

Thabani H. Moyo is a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Zimbabwe and works creatively with children and young people.

.

Habitat Afrika Safaris investing in the future of Arts and Culture

A local tourist company, Habitat Afrika Safaris, operating from the tourist resort town of Victoria Falls has come in to support the arts by partnering Intwasa Arts Festival koBukawayo in hosting the inaugural primary schools traditional dance competition. Many a times arts organisations have publicly complained about the reluctance of the corporate sector to invest in the arts but Habitat Afrika Safaris’ coming in proves that there are indeed local companies prepared to invest in the arts sector and provide opportunities for talent discovery and nurturing. The competition dubbed Habitat Afrika Safaris Dance Competition is open to all primary schools and focuses on traditional indigenous dances found in all four corners of Zimbabwe.

“We are excited about this partnership. Habitat Afrika Safaris has shown confidence in us. They have put their money where their mouth is. Now it is up Intwasa to make sure this partnership adds more value to the festival. Slowly, the corporate sector is coming to the dance. We are indeed excited about this development,” said Raisedon Baya, the Director of Intwasa Festival.  Obviously the dance competition is another opportunity and platform for young people to come out and showcase their talents. Habitat Afrika Safaris and Intwasa are giving this opportunity to young people and hopefully the opportunity will not go unnoticed. With more corporate support the festival can reach its full potential within a few years.

“Habitat Afrika Safaris is proud to be associated with this event. In investing in the children’s arts and culture, we are investing in the future of our country. There is a thin line separating art, culture, and tourism. Investing in the arts for children means the culture is preserved for future generations and surely, people from all the corners of the world will still visit the country to see and learn more of our unique culture. We are looking forward to a successful Intwasa and also a future partnership that will go beyond this festival.” said Rodwell Masotsha Sibanda, the C.E.O of Habitat Afrika Safaris. 

The Habitat Afrika Dance Competition is part of an exciting and comprehensive Intwasa schools programme for 2011. The schools programme includes poetry competitions, a drama competition, debate, and performances. Catch the competition at Intwasa 2011