Namibia: Minister appoints National Arts Council members

The council comprises members drawn from the public and private sectors. Consultant and arts advocate Patrick Sam is the new chairperson of NACN. He will be deputised by Shareen Thude, a manager at a local craft centre.

Other appointed members include Dalicia Olivier, M’kariko Amagulu, Sanet Steenkamp, Petsy Neiss, Ambrosius Sindano, Malakia Matheus, Veno Kauaria, Ervast Mtota, Leitago /Narib, Felix Haingura, Martha Amutenya and Gretta Gaspar.

“The Council will provide the opportunity to build on the strong foundation already built over the past three years,” NACN vice chairperson Shareen Thude said.

Leitago /Narib said his mission on the council is to bring it closer to the artists and come up with sustainable funding methods that will see artists creating their own wealth. Martha Amutenya said there was need for the arts to be recognised and valued. She implored the council to consider arts teacher training.

Another member, Ambrosius Sindano, weighed in: “The arts are neglected, the arts council needs to raise the importance of arts in formal schools so that youths have an option to improve their practical skills.”

In a statement, MOEAC explained the council’s selection process.

“The NACN is established through the National Arts Fund (NAF) Act No 1 of 2005, which makes provision for the establishment of a council to act as an advisory body to the fund,” NACN said. “As per the Act, the Council should be composed of seven main members, but it also makes provision for the appointment of alternate members. For the main positions, two are filled by the representatives of the MOEAC, one from the Ministry of Finance, while the rest are through public nomination.

“Therefore, over the course of February and March, through the use of the local mass and social media to reach interested parties, the council received a total of 32 nominations, which were screened and assessed with regard to key competencies that would be essential to the future development of the NACN. All nominees proved that they had something to offer, but only six could be selected as main members - each with alternate members, however, pending nominations of representatives from the Ministry of Finance.”