Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture has urged arts and heritage sectors in the country to familiarise themselves with the National Arts and Heritage Act to understand its provisions and reap the benefits.
Deputy Minister Owen Chomanika said this in Lilongwe yesterday during the opening of a two-day National conference for the cultural and heritage industries.
He stressed the importance of understanding the provisions of the law among creatives, saying a robust industry is built on informed stakeholders.
“It is important for artists to understand how the law functions. This will allow them know their rights, responsibilities, opportunities and ensure active participation in its implementation,” said Chomanika.
He called on creatives to take advantage of the conferenceto facilitate discourse on the Act’s guidelines and promote its operationalisation to enhance industry’s growth and sustainability.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that stakeholders chart a clear way forward on how the law can be effectively implemented to support and grow the creative and heritage industries,” Chomanika added.
He also challenged creatives to focus on value addition and competitiveness, stressing the need to produce high-quality arts and heritage products that can compete on the international market.
In an interview, Malawi National Commission for Unesco acting deputy executive secretary David Mulera said that successful implementation of the Act hinges on the knowledge and involvement of participants, ensuring that it is effectively applied on the ground to strengthen areas that have previously been weak.
“As Unesco, we want all stakeholders to be fully aware of the Act and actively contribute to the discussions. Its implementation depends on their understanding as it will collectively help us address challenges and improve the sector,” he said.
Mulera said they want to see to it that the law benefits the industry and its players and creates an environment where they can thrive and contribute to the growth of the industry.
One of the participants, Chewa Heritage Foundation coordinator, Senior Chief Lukwa, expressed optimism that the Act will improve the status of art and artists in the country.
“We will ensure that the arts and cultural heritage receive the support they deserve. We now have a backup and hope that the conference can help other players understand what the law offers,” he said.
The conference aims to engage stakeholders on policy and research for the sector, review and validate draft regulations for the operationalisation of the National Arts and Heritage Promotion Fund and report on the review of the National Cultural Policy.
