Lisa Isaacs
FOUR local arts companies will be prepared for the world stage in the first nationwide arts incubator project, launched yesterday at the Artscape Theatre.
The Creative Arts Incubators programme will provide a platform for the arts sector to create employment, and provide skills and training to encourage economic self-reliance, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in a statement about the programme’s launch yesterday. The programme will run for a year.
“The aim is to introduce arts as a career to our youth, and to encourage them to identify opportunities for themselves. We want young people to discover their talents so they can contribute to rebuilding this country,” said Mthethwa.
He said the arts sector contributed R90.5 billion to the economy – about 3 percent of the GDP.
“It is a welcome development that artists use their creative intellectual skills and intense passion and energy to move the country forward. The incubators will provide learning experience to polish skills as a musician and artist. They will teach the young how to strive for excellence to compete at a global level.”
The department has made an initial investment of R500 000 in the programme, which will see performing arts companies benefit, including Un-mute, featuring disabled alongside able-bodied dancers.
Un-mute choreographer Themba Mbuli said: “For us, it is the biggest platform that we have been given.
“It is difficult when you have talented people but don’t have the resources to develop them or house them. This gives us a platform to perform.”
The Arts and Culture Department’s acting director-general, Vuyo Jack, said the incubators would enable locals to tell their own uncompromised stories.
“Let’s get new material, let’s provide a platform where we can be able to look at the technical development. You can have brilliant stories, but to bring it to production, you need to know the tricks of the trade,” he said.
He said the companies would be helped to develop business models in masterclasses and learn to come up with a venture capital fund to produce some of their ideas.
He added that more funding would be provided as the programme grew.
Artscape director Marlene le Roux said young entrepreneurs who have previously worked in their communities were selected.
“They have already shown resilience in what they’re doing. The people in their communities already know them. If they are not successful, then we need to relook it, but this gives them a base to work from,” she said.
The four companies chosen are: TAG Changers, which works with local school and religious groups facilitating local dance training classes; Tiervlei Arts, offering training workshops in various art disciplines; Theatre Through Motivation Productions, a performance group bringing together professionals and emerging performers, and Un-mute.