COTA cares about artsIf there are people who are passionate about the Namibian art industry we should definitely not forget the College of the Arts (COTA) staff. Making an artist difference Tjil caught up with visual arts lecturer, Fillipus Sheehama who spoke about the contribution of the arts to the economy and how people need to be open minded about arts.Having a career in Namibia as an artist is hard but possible. The first thing that makes it dicey is the fact that the population is small and secondly, Namibians are not really exposed to arts as compared to other countries.
These are some of the reasons for the low appreciation of arts in Namibia. “Many people don''t see the importance of having a piece of artwork in an office or at home.
There are companies that are making a lot of money but if you go to the premises there isn''t even one sculpture,” said Sheehama.
He also said more black people need to acquaint themselves with art as it is mostly tourists and white people that support local arts.
Asked how Namibians can be made more aware of arts, Sheehama said arts should be introduced in schools as a subject. “Its pity that arts as a subject are not considered an important subject.
“Many schools treat arts as a break period which makes students disregard the importance of it all together,” said Sheehama. He suggested that the COTA students can offer holiday workshops and sessions. He also stressed that there is more to arts than drawing and painting including sculpting, fashion and technologies.
“We need to start appreciating our local products because we have all the things that we purchase from outside, why can''t we get them locally? What happened to Ramatex?” he questioned Sheehama.
He concluded by saying that arts will only get recognition once a minister who understands arts is appointed.
“We don''t need a politically appointed minster who understands nothing about arts and its effectiveness to the economy of the country.
“The directorate and permanent secretary should understand arts. There are so many people who could do a much better job once appointed.” Sheehama said he believes once that is changed, budgets will be structured that will cater for the grassroots.
June Shimuoshili