ENCAC sets record straight on artists’ assistance

MBABANE – Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stanley Dlamini shared that their policies are doing well in supporting artist development in the country.

$ccording to 'lamini the council was doing their bit in supporting artists in (swatini especially when booNed outside the country.

The association promotes and develops art and culture through regulating the industry,coordinating arts and cultural activities, advocacy and collaboration with Ney staNeholders,sensitisation on cultural values, as well as socio-economic empowerment of artists.

/ocal artists such as $yaCity, M1ation have recently been booNed outside the country.

$yaCityhas recently been maNing freTuent trips to 6outh $frica (6$), such as Megalo where he played live. M1ation recently flew to =an]iba for the Full Moon 3arty where he performed.

On 'cember this year '- Cup, Mandisa Mamba and Mvelo are set to add on the list of artists who will be rendering their services outside the country, after being booNed for the µ$ll :hite Music and Fashion Festival¶ in Maseru, /esotho.

Help

6ome of these artists usually seeNed travelling and financial assistance from the 1ational Council of $rts and Culture to help them in maNing these trips a success.

From the council, artists usually got administrative assistance such as international passport application letter to fast tracN processing of passport and financial support as their way of sponsoring trips that were classified as national events.

This was revealed by (1C$C C(O who also acNnowledged that they only offered financial assistance after they had received an invitation from the artist to the council concerning asNing for support in maNing their trip successful.

³For an artist who has been reTuested by someone outside the country to render his services, we only asN him to represent us well. %ut for an artist who will be going out in the country for awards, we try by all means to financially support them while maNing

TAssistance ABOUT FOCTO

HE vision and mission of FOCTO is to ‘keep Cape Town singing’, by promoting and supporting both potential and existing vocal talent in the Mother City in partnership with bursary-related academic programmes and venues.

Offering an information-sharing social media platform, FOCTO also hopes to keep both friends and followers updated on entertainment and events, including performances for the purposes of social benefit and talent recognition. Through leadership and initiative, as well as collaborating and partnering with others who share a common vision in the musical industry, FOCTO wishes to nurture and support discovered and undiscovered proudly South African that trip. +owever, the support comes after the artist has sent us a formal invitation or the artists manager send us the invitation,´ 'lamini said.

In justifying why they only offered financial support to artists going out of the country for an award as well as awards competition, he said they got the support due to the honour that the artist would be representing the country.´

'lamini went on to clarify their stand towards local '-s who may be booNed outside the country for gigs. In his clarification he made it clear that the council did not assist the '-s in any way. ³Those who go outside the country to perform in gigs do not need our assistance as they are going for business where they are usually paid for offering their services. Our main focus is only on artist going out of the country due to national events and competitions.´ talent. FOCTO’s objectives are to contribute pro-actively to supporting and developing new and existing talent for both the local and global stage, to inspire an online movement of followers who remain on top of operatic, Jazz and other relevant performances contributing to social transformation and upliftment and to encourage a large philanthropic following to support local projects and outreach programmes in the vocal performance industry via FOCTO membership.

Throughout the season, the Friends of Opera presents behind-the-glimpses into the world of opera through a series of informal and formal events hosted at several venues in Cape Town.