Director of Arts in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Humphrey Mpondaminga yesterday bemoaned the low numbers of women artists in leadership positions despite many having the potential.
Mpondaminga said this at a one-day stakeholder’s orientation meeting for the project on ‘Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Malawi’s Cultural and Creative Sector’ held at Thope Lodge in Mponela, Dowa.
“Women artists are doing quite a lot on the ground in different artistic disciplines but the numbers in leadership roles is not impressive. There is need for empowerment if the creative sector is to flourish,” he said.
Mpondaminga said the orientation meeting was crucial in providing a platform a platform for engaging with sector stakeholders regarding the project and that this will help in generating awareness including objectives, activities, outcomes and work plan.
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“Through activities such as training workshops, review of policy and legal instruments and a national workshop on women creatives, among others, it is envisaged that the project will oversee an increase in the number of women taking active roles in cultural and creative spaces,” he said.
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Department of Arts is implementing the project having received a grant from Unesco’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) to the tune of US$ 100,000.
Malawi National Commission for Unesco Acting Deputy Executive Secretary David Mulera said they were hopeful that the project will bring out the desired results.
He said Unesco has supported over 100 projects which focuses on developing countries leading to structural change and development of policies.
“We would like to thank Department of Arts through the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture for qualifying for this support. It is not easy but qualifying for it means proper homework was done,” Mulera said.
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During the meeting, participants who included leadership of all arts associations engaged in a number of topics on ‘Status of the Creative Sector’ presented by Zilanie Gondwe and ‘Project Activities and Workplan by Ezaius Mkandawire.
Meanwhile, National Arts and Heritage Council (Nahec) taskforce has submitted a request to Minister of Finance with regards to the financing of Nahec whose act was assented to by President Lazarus Chakwera last year.
“We want as legislators will be meeting to provide funds to Nahec through Department of Arts for it to start functioning. The creative sector has shown its potential and so, we need a budget of K3.78 billion,” Nahec taskforce secretary Ron Muphuwa said on Wednesday.
