Responding to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament this week, Kelebeng said the purpose of the Fund is to address financial barriers and close the existing gap by providing financial resources for large-scale projects in the arts and media. “The Fund will support initiatives that significantly promote sports and creative arts,” he said. Kelebeng stated that his ministry will promote the creative industries and enhance their contribution to both economic growth and preservation of national cultural identity while supporting private-sector initiatives to diversify the economy. The minister also said the ministry intends to partner with development partners and private entities to launch a joint programme for the youth. He explained that the joint youth programme will be aimed at honing talent, developing entrepreneurship cultural dimension of creatives and reinforcing civic and community engagement among the youth who form a majority of the sports and creatives. “It will encourage collaboration with the private sector to develop and/or construct purpose-built facilities for the creative sector, through Public Private Partnerships,” he said.
Furthermore, Kelebeng said it is critical to take advantage of technology in the creative sector and support the global marketing of the artworks for better returns and increased contribution to economic growth. He stated that his ministry will consider removing duties/taxes on smart devices to facilitate (young) people to develop content. “There is a need to promote and facilitate co-productions with global networks and companies and leverage the scenic landscape of Botswana and cultural diversity. It is therefore necessary to encourage domestic investment in the creative sector aimed at creating employment opportunities by using tax measures to incentivise the private sector,” he added. Additionally, the minister said the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) sector holds significant potential for economic growth, job creation and the preservation of Botswana’s rich cultural heritage.
He lamented that the sector is currently underdeveloped, primarily due to the absence of a modern, comprehensive policy framework that supports local content, infrastructure development and financial sustainability. “The development of the creative industries through the promotion and preservation of the arts, culture and heritage sector with a focus on the professionalisation and commercialisation of the creative industry is necessary for the sector to increase its contribution to the national Gross Development Product (GDP) as well as create employment opportunities for Batswana. The priority areas covered include the development of policies, capacity building/education, development of purpose-built facilities, socio-economic participation, and content creation for heritage sustainability,” he added. This, he said, would create an enabling environment for Batswana to participate in heritage preservation and celebration. His remarks come after the National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) this week opened calls for applications for the Arts and Culture Grant, meant to support the creative economy in the development, promotion, and preservation of the creative industries of Botswana.
According to a press release from NACB, the grant is open to those working in the creative sector, including but not limited to projects/events/activities/programmes by artists, trusts, societies, associations, and companies operating in the arts and culture sector. The threshold for funding is P300, 000.00 for arts and culture projects. The open call for applications for the Arts and Culture Grant for the financial year 2024-25 commenced on November, 29 and is open to categories that include Performing Arts: Theatre and Dance, Comedy; Visual Arts: Photography, Painting, Sculpture, Fine Arts, Art Residency and Literary Arts Works.
