21 Apr 2021

Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development principal programmes officer, Mr Omphitlhetse Tshukudu says ministry will hold arts presentations next month to stimulate the creative industry.

This comes after the ministry adopted relief strategies in support of the creative sector and ensure the creative industries are sustained and practitioners are given the necessary financial support.

Briefing MYSC stakeholders in Mochudi recently, Tshukudu said the district received over P300 000 of relief funds, which would be awarded to deserving creatives in the district in an effort to try and relief the industry.

He said the district office would provide logistics such as identification of suitable venues, artistes, transportation, accommodation and meals in preparation for recordings in collaboration with identified video production companies, arts associations, coordinators and other government ministries and departments.

He also said presentations would involve legends and upcoming artistes drawn and/or selected by ministry’s district office in collaboration with arts associations in order to be as inclusive as possible, adding that Kgatleng District MYSC office had put in place sub-committees that would ensure objective selection of beneficiaries.

Tshukudu said groups would be awarded P25 000, mmamogolokwane and contemporary poet would be awarded P5 000 respectively.

Groups include contemporary music, choral, dikhwaere, drama, traditional songs and dance while individual performances include segaba, katara, setinkane, poetry, disk jockey and comedy.

He said artistes  that participated during last year’s activities such as the President’s Day competitions, Independence’s Day celebrations and the post-Independence Day extravaganza would not be eligible  to participate in order to allow for equitable distribution of opportunities and resources.

The presentations will be held in two phases in May and August and presentations attracts citizens only.

Tshukudu said the purpose of the meeting was to collaborate with strategic stakeholders on activities availed by the ministry in recognition of hardships the creative industry had experienced as a result of measures put in place to put the COVID-19 pandemic under control. ENDS