BEPA, LEA train creatives on business planning
TWe are covering business planning on this one and will continue to touch on various topics. The creatives will be equipped and capacitated with information and can seek funds from organisations such as CEDA
he marriage between the Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association ( BEPA) and the Local Enterprise Authority ( LEA) will this week ( September 6th- 10th), see the two partners hosting a virtual Business Planning Training for creatives. In total, 40 creatives, who happen to be members of BEPA and the Botswana Musicians Union ( BOMU) are slated to be part of this training.
Speaking in an interview with this publication, the President of the advocacy association for events and creatives industries, Gilbert Seagile explains that the training follows the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency ( CEDA)’ s revised guidelines, where it was unveiled that creatives could also apply for money from the agency.
He also revealed that he had a meeting with the CEO of LEA, Dr Racious M. Moatshe, where he tabled a proposal to his office. He says despite the fact that the creative industry contributes in big numbers to Botswana’s GDP, they are still seen as an informal sector. He said that LEA jumped on board to turn the creative industry into a business, and that the first part of that journey was understanding the creative industry at an event held earlier this year at Ave Maria.
He also says that they will soon work on a case study looking at the Creative industry, particularly the nightlife, and its contribution to the GDP. Seagile says that the ongoing training seeks to capacitate the creatives.
“We are covering business planning on this one and will continue to touch on various topics. The creatives will be equipped and capacitated with
information and can seek funds from organisations such as CEDA,” he said, adding that they started with 50 participants. The response, he says, has been overwhelming and that this was something that the creatives were yearning for. “Every one who is in the creative industry is welcome to participate in the training,” he says.
He further said that the training was P150, and that the participant had to buy bundles. But all was not lost as some of the creative industry practitioners such as Seabelo Modibe and Tonderai jumped on board to sponsor 80 participants, both promoters and artists. “Our dream is to travel to other parts of the country such as Shakawe, and do the same training. We understand that virtual is limiting for some people.”
Meanwhile, the campaign for Safe Opening of the Entertainment Industry continues. The campaign has gone through a consultation with members, engagement with creative industry stakeholders, a creative industry stakeholders forum, MYSC briefing, and Parliament briefing for political will.