Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has set up a Cultural Affairs Office to bridge the gap with artistes and unlock the creative potential of the city and its creative community.
This came out yesterday during a consultative meeting between the artistes and the BCC held at the Bluez Cafe in the city.
The office found at the Social Services department in Nguboyenja has Nkululeko Nkala as the senior cultural affairs officer.
The idea was mooted through a memorandum of understanding signed in 2015 between BCC and Nhimbe Trust to set up the office. Presently, Nhimbe Trust has equipped the office with furniture and computers and a heavy duty photocopier among other things.
Among those in attendance were the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Bulawayo provincial Arts manager Charity Nyathi, playwright Raisedon Baya, Umkhathi Theatre works director Matesu Dube, veteran actor Memory Kumbota, Mercy Kayumba Iyasa spokesperson, Black Umfolosi’s Sotsha Moyo, Priscilla Sithole – the director of iBhayiskopo Film Academy and singer Mzoe7.
During the meeting, artistes shared their views as to what the office should do for them. Among other things, they said it should engage artistes in coming up with a cultural policy for the city.
Others pointed out that the office should be fully equipped with paid staff, which will help co-ordinate everything and anything to do with the promotion of the arts in the city. Some advised that there should be a database of all artistes and a calendar of cultural events within the city that are formulated with consultation with the artistes and promoted by the city through the office.
Others said it was imperative that BCC update their pamphlets and promotional memorabilia to include the city’s artefacts.
Nkala said they were still setting up the offices and the meeting was to get input from the artistes about what they want them to do.
“The meeting went well. It’s always good to get input from artistes as to what they want the office to do for them. At the end of the meeting, we were satisfied with what we were told by the artistes which will inform the cultural policy document we are working on for the city,” said Nkala.
He said the Cultural Affairs office would be a one stop shop for the arts and would work in tandem with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.