Arts, culture department runs on shoestring budget
When government said rehabilitation of the Blantyre Culture Centre (BCC) would begin once it sourced K5 million (US$12 285), some people wondered how a whole government would give such an excuse.
It was indeed surprising as this was coming at a time the entertainment hub had already been idle for years due to lack of funds for renovations.
As the country celebrates 50 years of independence, government is yet to construct a public art gallery.
Musicians, who for a long time have dominated entertainment in the country, have been decimated by piracy which has reduced them to vendors.
The list of problems is endless and this has prompted some quarters to believe that government does not consider arts and culture as an important sector that also deserves priority and investment.
In an email response, Director of Culture Elizabeth Gomani Chindebvu admitted that inadequate funding from government affects delivery of the department’s activities.
“It is so clear to everyone that the Department of Culture receives very little funding to efficiently run all its programmes and activities, let alone supporting the vast cultural industry,” she said.
Film-maker ShemuJoyah told The Nation two months ago that he is looking for K880 million for his John Chilembwe film. This is about double the K481 million (US$ annual budget allocation to the whole ministry from the last national budget budget.
Of the K481 million (US$1 181 818), the Department of Culture which has six sub-branches, received K94 742 584 (US$232 782.8).
But, according to Chindebvu-Gomani, her office does not get all the money approved in the budget.
“These allocations are very inadequate for effective performance of the department. Important to note is that the actual funds which are received annually are usually lower than the approved figures. Thus, the monthly cash-flows are usually lower than the approved and this worsens the situation,” she said.
She said in the last budget expenditure, parliament approved K26 891 503 for the Cultural Services section, but they got less than the figures.
Other section in the department are Arts and Craft, Museums, Censorship Board, National Archives of Malawi and Antiquities, and each gets less than K15 million allocation according to a budget breakdown that On the Arts has seen.
“We cannot do well with poor funding. Government needs to think of investing in arts so that annual allocations are able to give the arts industry significant projects that can cause an impact,” said Musicians Union of Malawi(MUM) president ChimwemweMhango, adding that such allocations kill their dream of seeing government establishing a record label and allocating a special funds to fight piracy.
Chindebvu Gomani says it is only adequate funding that can produce results in arts and culture. She says her office needs a K450 million allocation from each national budget and this is what can bring change and efficiency at the office.
She added that the department finds it so hard to implement even the most critical activities and programmes. As a result, she says, most of these funds go towards the settling utility bills and the day-to-day running of the offices, with very little going towards the implementation of programmes.
