16 Jun 2019

Hollard Life head of distribution, Reason Nyamambi says the creative industry has the capacity to grow economies in countries such as Botswana.

Giving a keynote address at the President’s Day regional art exhibition for Gaborone and South East District on June 14, Nyamambi said the creative industry had the potential to contribute towards social, cultural, economic and sustainable development of a country.

She said the industry enhanced economic diversification since trade in artworks continued to rise the world over. She noted that Botswana could benefit from the employment contribution by the creative industry, especially under privileged groups such as women and youth.

Nyamambi also underscored that artists could use their skill to produce tangible artistic outputs that could be traded or exchanged in the value chain.

Nyamambi said Botswana, like many developing countries, was faced with challenges which were an impediment to the growth of the industry.

She said without long-term solutions to challenges such as inadequate entrepreneurial skills, infringement of copy rights, lack of markets for locally produced artworks and the dominance and monopoly by foreign firms within the local market, the objective to develop the industry would remain a dream.

“There is therefore urgent need for all stakeholders to come together and establish a central coordination point for all efforts made towards growing the industry,” stated Nyamambi.

She challenged corporates to consume locally produced artworks and desist from taking pride in ranking the country second best after other nationalities.   She said artists decried the low commercial uptake of their products by the market both locally and abroad.

Nyamambi, however, commended government for efforts to empower and support the creative industry with policies as well as acquisition of locally produced artworks.

She said as an insurance company, Hollard was committed to forging and nurturing partnerships as well as developing innovative insurance solutions that fit the African lifestyle.

She noted that her company has developed its strategy based on its understanding of the local market, adding that the success of Hollard was attributed to the company’s strong and enduring partnerships with all its stakeholders.

For his part, Thapong Visual Centre coordinator,  Reggie Bakwena said as the country transited to a knowledge-based economy, the creative industry was a sector that could realise that. He said the creative sector needed the necessary support to flourish, noting that it was through the arts that the country was able to get foreign exchange and attract tourists among other benefits.

The exhibition attracted products from painting, drawing, beadwork, woodcarving, ceramic, sculpture, graphic design, print making, tapestry, photography, glasswork as well as mixed media and innovative design.  Winners walked away with P3 000, P1 500, P1 000 for position one, two and three respectively, and they will compete with other winners from other regions at the President’s Day national art exhibition scheduled for July. ENDS