Press Statement 26th June 2013 :UNESCO Funded Workshop for Cultural Festival Managers opens in Harare

Thirty managers of cultural festivals in Zimbabwe are meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe in a workshop supported by the International Fund for Cultural diversity (IFCD) of the UnitedNations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) are organised by Nhimbe Trust in Collaboration with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr Josh Nyapimbi of Nhimbe Trust made a presentation on the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the diversity of Cultural Expressions and the International Fund for Cultural Diversity which was created to provide international assistance that facilitates the implementation of the convention especially these activities that enhance the cultural industries and the creation of new ones.

Nyapimbi indicated that the workshop was mainly a capacity building of festival managers with the following broad objectives:

1. To share experiences and good practices in festival management, marketing and resource mobilisation;

2. To enhance understanding on the role of NACZ in the promotion, development and regulation of festivals;

3. To formulate recommendations and actions for the furtherance of structured collaborative platforms for effective and sustainable networking of arts festivals in Zimbabwe.

In his keynote address Mr Elvis Mari, the director of National Arts Council of Zimbabwe indicated to festival managers present; ‘As Arts Festival, I urge you therefore to be knowledgeable in such areas as marketing, general management, financial planning and resource mobilization. There is need to utilise workshops of this nature to sharpen these skills and enable you as arts festival managers to operate efficiently in this highly commercialized world in which we are living.’ Mr Mari said that the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe was gratified that the organisers of this workshop have provided a platform for the exchange of notes, experiences and hopeful the ‘’beginning of replication of the best practices in our festivals throughout Zimbabwe.’’ Scheduled to present papers during the three day workshop include a case study about the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) by Maria Wilson; a case study about the Intwasa Festival koBulawayo by Raisedon Baya. The list of paper presenters include Nicholas Moyo, the deputy director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe on ‘marketing of cultural festivals’, Florence Mukanga/Majachani on ‘monitoring and evaluation of festivals, Stephen Chifunyise on resource mobilization and substantiality of cultural festivals. Also expected to make presentations are the representatives of the department of immigration on international artists mobility requirements; and a representative of the Censorship Board on Censorship of festival materials.

ISSUED BY NHIMBE TRUST

It is expected that on the last day of the workshop, the 28th June, festival managers will consider the proposal to establish a national association of festivals or festival managers.Festivals whose managers are attending the workshop are Manica Festival, Harare International Festival of the Arts, Harare Jazz Festival, Zimbabwe International Book Fair, Rushinga Arts Festival, Dzimbabwe Arts Festival, Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo, Zimbabwe International Film Festival, Kumakomoyo Arts Festival, Rainbow Arts Festival, Midlands Arts and Culture Festival, October International Jazz Festival, Jikinya Dance Festival, Jahunda Community Arts Festival, Shangani Arts Festival, Inkumla Festival of the Arts, Solo Festival of the Arts, Murewa–Uzumba–Pfungwe Cultural Festival, Marirangwe Arts Festival, Shoko Festival, Jonah Cultural Arts Festival, Bulawayo Culture Festival, Zimbabwe Youth Festival, Zimbabwe International Film and Festival Trust.

The Festival Managers Workshop is the first project in a three project programmesupported by the International Fund for Cultural diversity. The other two projects include ameeting between mayor/town clerks of cities and town with heads of Arts Associations and a national conference of cultural operators on arts and culture legislation, regulations and procedures.

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