By Aminata Sanneh
The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) with support from the United Nation Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO-Aschberg) programme will on Tuesday 1st November, 2022 organise a day’s consultative meeting on Elaboration on Regulation for the Culture and Creative Industries.
The forum intends to promulgate a regulation from the existing NCAC Act, 2007 to operationalise the National Endowment Fund for Arts and Culture to enhance funding of artistic and cultural programmes for the betterment of the economic and social status of female artists.
Director General of NCAC, Mr Hassoum Ceesay said the consultation with policy makers, cultural organisations and artists is expected to improve the social and economic statuses of artists, decent employment and the balanced circulation of cultural goods and services. This, he said will strengthen the competitiveness of Gambian female artists and the cultural and creative industries through capacity building on entrepreneurial and marketing skills.
“The consultation will design and elaborate on regulations and strategies derived from the current NCAC Act and the National Arts and Culture Policy to help promote the economic, social and cultural rights of the artists,” he said.
Mr Ceesay revealed that capacity building will be provided for target artistic associations and individual artists and female artists on database access, and various Gambian laws that protect the rights of artists including women creators.
Ms Yarri Kamara, Policy Consultant and Researcher, informed that UNESCO is conducting a survey on status of women participation and contribution to the cultural and creative industries with a view to acquiring data, understanding and creating a conducive context for creativity, as well as inform on the status of women artists.
This she said will assist in preparing pedagogical material for the capacity building of female artists on contracts negotiations, public relations, e-Marketing and strengthen the competitiveness of Gambian female artists in the cultural and creative industries.
As the recent UNESCO report on cultural and creative industries in the face of COVID-19 demonstrates, job losses in this area are conservatively estimated at 10 million worldwide, suggesting a rapid decline in employment that is profoundly affecting the livelihoods of creative workers”, stresses Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture.
The event will be graced by female artists, journalists, cultural and creative associations as well as policy makers.
