Over E4m increase for Arts & Culture
What about Monday?
That could be our one day we look at things the same way, and wear funny shoes.”
~ Kevin Dalton MBABANE - Last week Friday the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenbeg presented the Budget for 2023 in Parliament before cabinet.
The Arts and ulture ouncil falls under the Ministry of 6ports ulture and Youth Affairs which was allocated E85 million. The previous year it received E6 million. This year saw an increase of E16 million for the ministry which has different associations namely Youth Affairs forYouth evelopment )und, 1ational )ootballAssoci ation, 1ational Youth ouncil, Eswatini 6ports ouncil and ouncil ofArts and ulture.Arts and ulture saw an almost double increase from previous years as this year it was allocated E8 682 735, yet the previous year was E3 7 360 and the year before that.
This almost double increase in allocation is much wel comed as the previous years didn’t get an increase, yet this year saw the addition of the opyright and 1eighbouring 5ights Act which was established in 2018,finally come to ‘life’. ,t came through 6enator Manqoba .humalo, the Minister of ommerce, ,ndustry and Trade. This is according to a government gazette dated -uly 27, 2021, which announced that the opyright and 1eighbouring 5ights Act of 2018 came into force on August 1, 2021. According to copyright is a type of intel lectual property that gives its owner the e clusive right to make copies of a creative’s work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or musical form.
Artists have decried the fact that they were not com pensated for their royalties which is impossible with the opyright Act being active. ,t’s worth noting that Must last week the opyright Board announced that 3- YEAR BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR Council of Arts and Culture
2021/22 2022/23 2023/24
they were now hiring the right people for the associa tion to start operating. ,n an e clusive interview with this publication on )riday after the budget was tabled in 3arliament , the Minister of 6ports, ulture and Youth Affairs, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, when asked about this year’s allocation said :e appreciate that they have added money to what we have asked for. E16 million increase is not a true reflection of what we had asked for.
Challenge E3 979 360 E3 979 360 E8 682 735
As we were having a challenge with the different associations such as Arts and ulture, 6ports and Youth ouncil. :e were not able to provide proper service as the cost of admintration had gone up, which was taking most of the budget, hence we asked for the increase, so we can give them a better subvention so they have programmes that will speak to the youth directly. He went on to say that Arts and ulture needs support for programmes especially the upcoming artists while they, trying to establish themselves, also in terms of helping them secure venues to host their shows. :e asked for more money for the industry so we can provide rehearsal rooms for upcoming artists and organise small shows to introduce themselves. As we analyse the budget we will then see what is allocated, as only today the lump sum was revealed, said Bulunga.
:hen quizzed about royalties not being back dated for three years he said, The 5oyalties issue is com plicated because even though the Act was brought into effect in 2018, it only became operational last year. The structure needs to register and open the office of the copyright for artist to register their music, hence it will be a challenge to backdate for artists to get their royalties.’’
Eswatini Arts and Music Association 6:AMA 3resident utfo lamini was also asked for his opinion about the E16 million increase, he said :e were e pecting a lot given the challenges we have. However, what’s encouraging is the opyright Act development which will take care of most challenges we have, if it can come to effect quickly. However, the challenge with the sports budget, ends up taking care of paying salaries and none goes to the youth to help with their proMects. :e pray that this year we get more grants so we make more money. :e pray that the Ministry of ,nformation, ommunication and Technology , T should budget for when the copyright kicks in, govern ment through it should pay the artists. But , am e cited with commerce and copyright coming into effect. And since ministry of )inance said we have money this year, if there’s a need we will take from the supplementary budget.’’