Times Of Swaziland: NACAS MAJOR BOOST TO ARTS, CULTURE - MINISTER

NACAS MAJOR BOOST TO ARTS, CULTURE - MINISTER
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Neliswa Sibiya on 14/11/2024 14:19:00


MBABANE –  Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture has achieved
unprecedented success in promoting Eswatini’s culture by increasing the
visibility of local artists through the NACAs.
This was said by the Acting Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Jane
Simelane in Parliament. In the preamble presented to Members of Parliament,
Mkhonta stated that the Ministry through Eswatini National Council of Arts and
Culture (ENCAC) programmes has seen a significant rise in youth and creatives
participation. “The highly successful launch of the National Arts and Culture
Awards (NACAs) drew over 2 100 entries across diverse artistic disciplines,
fostering a renaissance in arts and culture participation,” she said. The
acting minister also applauded the council for their recommendable work in
establishing arts centres in all regions to help creatives nurture their raw
talents. “The enabled success of such artistic and cultural resources will
significantly expand the reach of Eswatini’s artists,” Mkhonta said.
A member of the Ministry’s portfolio committee, Futhi Ngcamphalala said that
Eswatini is characterised by its arts and cultural inclusivity and harmony;
therefore more emaSwati should participate in the arts industry especially in
terms of developing the country economically and socially. “As a country we
are really in a very good position in terms of developing our arts industry
though there is still room to do more. Young people are now recognising and
appreciating the fact that there is a lot they can do and achieve through arts
and culture,” she said.
Ngcamphalala went on to appreciate the government’s involvement in fostering
arts and culture among the youth, however she pointed out that government needs
to fully commit to these industries as they not only showcase Eswatini’s
unique and rich art and cultural diversity but also play a major role in job
creation. “Through ENCAC the country hosts several pageants and events like
Miss Cultural Heritage and the upcoming NACA’s, to name a few. The concern is
that all these events are privately sponsored. The government needs to set aside
funds for these events as they promote the country,” she said. The committee
members put an emphasis on the education curriculum to include arts from primary
school level so that the talents the pupils have are nurtured at an early stage.
Benefits
In the United States, arts and culture are important to state economies. Arts
and culture-related industries, also known as ‘creative industries’ provide
direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract
investments, generate tax revenues and stimulate local economies through tourism
and consumer purchases. These industries also provide an array of other
benefits, such as infusing other industries with creative insight for their
products and services and preparing workers to participate in the contemporary
workforce.