Cape Town – Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa says his department is doing all it can to help artists with challenges that they face in the arts sector.
He said the department is helping artists, especially the youth to hone their music skills and to create a business in arts. This will allow them to stay away from crime.
The Minister said this during a meeting with the community of Nyanga in the Western Cape on Friday. The meeting formed part of the department’s Imbizo programme.
Minister Mthethwa hosted the imbizo to afford artists in Nyanga and surrounding areas an opportunity to voice their concerns on the challenges that they face as well as difficulties they may be experiencing when dealing with the department.
“I have spoken to your community leaders and I know some of your challenges.
“We are not here to make speeches, we are here to listen to your concerns and to see how we can help you with some of your challenges,” he said.
With the department currently in the process of reviewing the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage, it has initiated sectoral and provincial consultations throughout the country.
The department said communities are faced with challenges that make it difficult to build sustainable businesses.
This includes, amongst others, a lack of access to information, a challenge that has made it difficult for all artists to be aware of the opportunities offered by the Department.
Locals raised a variety of concerns.
These included, amongst others, the unavailability of rehearsal space for artists in the area as well as being unable to access funding for cultural projects and events.
There was also a question over when an arts theatre would be constructed in Gugulethu.
The Minister said his department would look into most of the concerns raised and address them accordingly.
Music legends like Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse have been roped in to hold music workshops in communities in order to mentor up and coming musicians with the basics of making music.
The help from experienced musicians will also ensure that skills are passed onto the current and future generations, the Minister said.
He said arts and culture was an important part of every community as it will help talented young people stay away from crime.
“An idle mind is a dangerous mind,” he said, adding that young people who find themselves unemployed with nothing to do tend to turn to drugs and crime.
The Minister said the department was also helping young people accessing important international events. – SAnews.gov.za
