Times Of Swaziland: ENCAC TO OFFER FREE ONLINE PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS

ENCAC TO OFFER FREE ONLINE PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS
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BY MMELI MKWANAZI on 20/07/2021 08:20:00


MBABANE – In adapting towards the fourth industrial revolution, ENCAC is
planning on embracing the digital space.
Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) through Chief Executive
Officer Stanley Dlamini has announced that they will be making quarterly reads
online aimed at promoting local artists’ craft to the world. The platform is
said to be for free for all emaSwati artists. Since the council has different
art codes under its umbrella, this will apply to performing arts (music,
theatre, dance and beauty pageants), visual arts (fine arts, craft, film and
television) and literary arts (book writing and publication).
“As ENCAC, we will be having a quarterly online magazine which will be
published every three months where we are going to also showcase cultural
productions and local creatives’ work,” said Dlamini. Dlamini added by
saying as an organisation, it was one of their main mandates to embrace the
digital world. “The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to wear our
creative caps. It has birthed new fruitful ideas; tapping into the vast digital
space will help elevate the industry. It will give the art sector a platform to
showcase their talents globally,” he said. For event organisers, the online
platform will make booking local artists easier as Dlamini added by saying that
each artist’s profile would be made available on the site.
accessible
He mentioned that the artists’ profiles would always be easily accessible in
order for anyone who is interested in that particular artists’ work to contact
him or her immediately. Dlamini went on to add that this would make it easier
for event organisers to know what artists charge for certain performances.
“Our intention is to give some of the artists to manage the platform. As we
speak, some fashion industry personnel recently had a photo-shoot this past
weekend and the rest will follow as the nation will be updated on such since
they (fashion industry personnel) are at advanced stages with regards to their
content,” he said. When asked whether the site would be available within the
next three months, Dlamini said the first read would be published earlier than
expected as some of the information would be ready before the three months
elapsed.
submit
He further urged local artists to submit their profiles by calling ENCAC offices
on 2404 5214 and more information would be availed to the public soon. ENCAC is
an administrative organisation, under the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth
Affairs, with delegated powers, to preserve, promote and co-ordinate all matters
of arts and culture, in the country, supervised by the Directorate Office under
the ministry. Local musician and record producer DJ Brown said although he still
had not seen the actual magazine since it was still being compiled, mentioned
that this was a great initiative by ENCAC.