RAKGARE NAMES 11 MEMBER ARTS COUNCIL BOARD
After a long wait, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare has finally appointed 11-member Board of the National Arts Council (NAC) to provide strategic direction and leadership to the new organisation.
The overdue NAC of Botswana Act came into effect on September 17 last year but Rakgare only announced the board almost a year later. The board is led by a familiar name being, former CEO of Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), Thabo Dithebe as chairperson. Other members include former member of kwaito group T-Joint Tebatso Hule, former Generations soapie actress Lerato Motshwarakgole, current coordinator of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Reginald Bakwena, theatre and performance arts expert, Professor Connie Rapoo, afro soul singer and No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency actress Mmaphala Letsatle, and Mogomotsi Mokgosi. Other additional members include MYSC representative Joel Thuto, MOPAGPA representative Dean Molebatsi, MNIG representative Vuyelwa Segokgo and MITI representative Keitseng Monyatsi.
“As I promised during the debate and presentation of the Bill, I have employed a transparent process in appointing the Board. An expression of interest was flighted by PEEPA and 148 applications were received following which a shortlist of 15 applicants was presented to me for selection,” Rakgare told Parliament on Friday. Rakgare also revealed that the NAC Board has been appointed for a period of three years ending in July 2024. He said the Board members have a good skills mix of academia, intellectual property management, human resource management, finance and accounting and practical music and arts experience.
He further said the council is set up to coordinate and regulate the arts and culture sector, promote good corporate governance, facilitate cultural exchanges with other countries and stakeholders, advise government on matters relating to arts and culture, and facilitate commercialisation of arts and culture activities, among others.
Rakgare explained that following promulgation of the Act, his ministry has been working around the clock on setting up the NAC of Botswana. “Establishment of the secretariat is an important first step in this process. To achieve this, a consultant has been engaged to develop the Organisational Structure, Job Effectiveness Descriptions, Grading and Remuneration of the employees of the council. This process is expected to be completed before the end of November 2021,” he highlighted.
He stated that as emphasised during the presentation of the NACB Bill, their intention is to use the Arts Council as a vehicle to drive the commercialisation of the arts in this country. He said the council will run programmes, collaborate with associations and enter into commercial deals. “We believe this will optimise financial returns to the artists and create job opportunities”.