Malawi to have an arts academy
Malawi has for long witnessed mediocrity in the arts due to lack of formal training by players in the industry.
However, the fortune of the industry might soon change as the directorate of culture, in conjunction with nine rights-holder associations, are mooting for the establishment of the country’s first ever arts academy.
In an interview with On the Arts, Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) senior licencing officer Rosario Kamanga said the school will enhance quality of artist’s work, thereby creating more demand, which in the end increases revenue through royalties.
“We are planning to have it at the Blantyre Cultural Centre, but discussions are still ongoing,” said Kamanga.
Malawi Writers Union (Mawu), Photographers Association of Malawi (Photama), Visual Arts Association of Malawi (Vaam), Malawi Folklore and Dance Music Association (Mfdmss), Book Publishers Association of Malawi (Bpam), Journalists Unions of Malawi (Juma), Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM), Poetry Association of Malawi (PAM), National Theatre Association of Malawi (Ntam) and other key stakeholders, including Unesco, Cosoma and the University of Malawi have began consultations, which will lead to the establishment of the first ever arts school, which will offer vocational courses in various artistic genres.
The college, which is due to be operational in two years time, will offer courses in film, photography, performing and fine arts, creative writing, journalism and film, among others.
The project is being coordinated by Cosoma with funding from the Norwegian Embassy.
A recent study conducted by the National Statistical Office put the economic contribution of copyright Industries, of which the arts are a major part of, at 4.46 percent of the GDP.
