Day Two discussions at the Arts & Culture Indaba held in Harare last week included a fiery session on the constitution making process and an interesting look at opportunities for artists beyond the borders of Zimbabwe. The Culture Fund as a model also came under discussion with a call being made for other initiatives to be set up that would run parallel to the Fund, covering different aspects of Arts & Culture.

^ Culture Fund Director, Farai Mpfunya speaks at the Arts & Culture Indaba.

Below is a summary of the day’s proceedings:

Address by Guest of Honor
(His Excellency Ambassador Sten Rylander)

1. SIDA’s continued support to the development/advancement of the Arts and Culture sector in Zimbabwe.
2. The importance of formulating a good culture policy that is all inclusive.

Is the Culture Fund a Working Model?
(Farai Mpfunya. Respondent: Chris Timbe)

1. Culture Fund set-up to advance human development through art and culture.  
2. Role played by Culture Fund in financing artists in various projects
3. Outline of findings of the baseline survey.
4. Culture Fund should not be the only model in the culture sector, other models should also be developed as alternatives.
5. Culture Fund should also focus on the sustainable development of projects funded.
6. The need for artists to also contribute to the development of Arts and Culture in Zimbabwe through funding the Culture Fund.

Constitutional Reform: A Feedback Session
(Hon D. Mwonzora, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Maretha Dube)

1. Constitutional reform process should be all inclusive, democratic and people driven.
2. Reform process divided into three phases and is currently at the consultative stage.
3. Gender requirement of 50% not being fulfilled.
4. Challenges within the constitution making process include: propaganda and disinformation; political polarization; specter of political violence.
5. Not enough publicity on constitutional reform process.
6. Artists to take advantage of the delay in the constitutional reform process to get more organized and participate fully.

^ Angela Kyle, from The Realtime Project in the UK, gives a talk on Intellectual Property.

Intellectual Property: Practical Solutions
(Angela Kyle, Polisile Dube, Serman Chavula, Willie Mushayi)

1. The historical power dynamics of Intellectual Property have shifted with more power being accorded to individuals as opposed to institutions.
2. The process has become more fluid and a blurring of the lines between the creation and consumption of creative work, is being observed because of the influx of the internet. It is this blurring of the lines that makes intellectual property issues complex and changes the way we think about Intellectual Property Rights.
3. The market and legal frameworks have changed. Individuals more power to retain ownership of their work whilst marketing their work.
4. There is need to harmonize Intellectual Property Rights laws within the region.
5. Membership to international conventions is necessary.
6. The responsibility of financing the Arts and Culture Sector should not be taken away from government.
7. Regional networking to be strengthened through membership to various regional organizations.
8. There is a tendency to focus on super artists, artists bargaining power is therefore weakened by excess supply of creative workers to the industries.
9. Lack of political will to develop and enforce copyright law. The current constitution reform process is not including IP issues. Responsible Justice Office does not have a budget.
10. Zimbabwe does not have a National IP Strategy.

Opportunities Beyond Our Borders
(Nkululeko Dube, Andrew Firming, Chirikure Chirikure)

1. There is need to brand artistic products to the needs of national, regional and the international market.
2. The Arts and Culture Industry does not have proper structures to fully participate especially on the international market.
3. Nurturing relationships:- Zimbabwe has made its mark globally, however artists have a tendency of not following up on networks, hoard promoters and are not honest.
4. Civil society, and international organizations such as the Commonwealth Foundation are interested in Zimbabwe and would like to begin a process of reconnection  to assist artists to build their international networks.

Conclusion and Wrap-Up
(Rev P.B. Damasane)

1. The Culture Policy to be reviewed.
2. Sector to unite and participate fully in policy making and legislative processes.
3. There is need to ensure that the Arts and Culture industry benefits fully from international conventions.

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Samu   |2010-02-25 11:00:11 I think it's important t realise that the Culture Fund cannot do everything. We need other organisations to come forward and assist. Reply 0   0

DT   |2010-02-25 11:03:45 I agree. The Culture Fund has done a lot for Arts & Culture in a very short time, but we need to also start thinking of sustainability. What happens without funding? How do we keep the industry alive? Reply 0   0

Sam   |2010-02-26 00:56:16 Congratulations to Nkululeko Dube and Iyasa for doing the great work that they are doing. There are few Zimbabwean groups that can boast of the same commercial success. I can think of Siyaya, Tuku and I get stuck. Any one else? Reply 0   0

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