An artist’s cry for help
With the creative industry in Botswana struggling to turn commercial, visual artist Ofentse Rannana has called on the government to start taking the arts seriously.
Rannana, who uses Art by Ofentse as his trade name, lamented that the art industry has remained stagnant over the years with the government doing little to alleviate the industry.
During an interview with Arts&Culture this week, Rannana said: “Though the creative industry is recognised, I do not think the government is doing enough to support artists”. Rannana, who realised his burning passion for art at a tender age, has endured the tough terrain of making it as an artist in Botswana due to a lack of government support. The artist, who thrives with Portrait drawings and surrealism which aims to revolutionise the human experiences, said artists have been abandoned for a long time. “We rarely have the support from stakeholders and the government because being an artist in the country is very expensive; the materials we use cost a fortune and people expect us to sell our arts at cheap prices,” he argued. Rannana also highlighted that the state could assist by putting capital in the creative industry to ameliorate it and make it an appealing career path for aspiring talents. “The government should invest in the creative arts and recognise it as one way that people, especially the youth, can earn a living through if supported adequately,” Rannana said. He said this includes creating a hub for the creatives where they could be able to showcase their flair. “If possible we can even have a big Art Centre where all talented individuals meet and share their ideas and this could help take the youth out of the streets and keep them busy,” he indicated. Additionally, he said artists’ should be allowed to display their artworks during national events such as the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the Budget Speech to market and sell to dignitaries. However, he warned fellow artists to find means to push their craft. “I am not saying that we should be over-dependent on the government, but rather all stakeholders should have an input in promoting the creatives and policies should be put in place in terms of protecting our works,” he said.