Time for creative sector to have systems

SOMETHING is happening in the creative arts sector. Yes. There is a certain vibe in the air, a certain energy that one just feels rippling across the sector. Hip-hop artiste Asaph would say the vibe is correct. Within a week the President of the country has expressed his desire to see the arts lead in dialogue around national peace and economic development. Unprecedented. In another forum Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality also expressed how the arts need to come to the table and be counted as far as cultural tourism is concerned. Unprecedented again! In another town the parent ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture was also talking about reviving local arts across the country. In Bulawayo the city fathers have started talking about introducing another festival, all in bid to make Bulawayo the cultural hub of the country. We can only parrot Asaph’s message again. The vibe is good.

Listening and reading to all this talk centering on the creative sector and the potential it possesses my heart jumps with excitement. The positivity around the arts is refreshingly good. Years back it was unheard of for the Head of State to talk about the arts, especially in the way the current Head of State, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa seems to have taken to the arts. Years back it was unheard of to sit in a tourism conference and the arts and culture are mentioned more than five times. Years back it was really unheard of for the arts to make headline news. But now it’s happening, and it’s exciting. The future is here.

But excitement alone is not enough. Talk alone is not enough. Meetings alone are not enough. The sector needs systems, working systems to be able to harness existing opportunities and spearhead development. Systems to put order. What systems? For what purpose? That will be the immediate response. Systems will make sure things are being done properly and for the development of the arts. For an example what systems are there for arts education? Systems that protect learners? Who is teaching what and where? What is the quality of arts education being dished to young and aspiring artistes? Without proper systems it means there are no controls and therefore, anyone can do what they want, anywhere they want. It means anyone can teach. Even people who should be nowhere near a classroom or a workshop will teach or facilitate, as long as the activity will put dollars in their pockets. We need a system to register artistes — separate genuine and serious artistes from chancers. Why is there a need to register artistes? A simple reason would be to know where to channel the little resources that come towards the arts. In the past we have seen resources going to flyby-night organisers and visitors to the sectors instead of those that really deserve it. So proper systems would control that.

We need a system that would encourage the creation of arts institutions, institution that will be able to sustain themselves. Without proper institutions there will never be meaningful and sustainable development in the arts. The system must be able to protect existing institutions and encourage new ones. The creative sector should move away from being a free for all platform. It must be like any other sector with its own rules and regulation.

Systems are critical to the development of any sector. The arts sector without systems will continue to be an informal sector and will continue to hemorrhage because of this. Systems will keep chancers at bay. Systems will make the sector work as one, rather than isolated islands. Systems will make it easy to collect data within the sector and use the same to make informed decision for the development of the sector. Systems will encourage order. Systems will encourage self-sustenance.