ZambieCHAPTERS

Jeudi 4 Aout 2011 verra la naissance du  chapitre national d’Arterial  Network  Zambie.  Joshua Nyapimbi, représentant national d’Arterial  Network Zimbabwe sera présent à  cette cérémonie tant attendue. Plus de détails dans le rapport suivant. 

Report on the launch of the Arterial Network Zambia Chapter 

The Arterial Network Zambian Chapter was launched on 5^th August, 2011 at Kwithu Lodge, Lusaka. Andrew Mulenga, the interim Country Representative and Yezi Arts Promotions and Production were charged with the role of organising the Arterial Network Zambian Chapter Launch.

The activities of the launch were in two folds; a media training workshop on arts and culture on 4^th August and the actual launch of the Arterial Network on 5^th August, 2011.

The Arterial Network regional office was represented by Mr. Josh Nyapimbi, the chairperson of the Zimbabwean Chapter.

The launch was attended by 30 people. Of the 30 people, 6 were from the media.

The Arterial Network Launch

The launch of the Arterial network Zambia Chapter took place on the 5^th August 2011.

The launch was attended by twenty five delegates from the media and different arts disciples.

 Mr. Nyapimbi was instrumental in introducing the Arterial network to the delegates and in giving guidance on how to proceed with the launch of the chapter.

In introducing the Arterial Network Mr Nyapimbi gave a background to the organisation under the theme Advancing African Creative Sector.

He outlined the following about the Arterial Network

• Arterial Network History
• The seven main aims of the Arterial Network
• Key Funding Partners

The key issues that came out of the presentation were that of the advantages of belonging to Arterial Network, funding to the arts and cultural sector and political will from the Zambian government in supporting the growth of the sector.

On addressing the funding part, Josh advised that the Arterial Network in itself does not provide funding but provides a channel to accessing pool funding from other donors.

The added advantage of being a member was the readily available information to enhance arts and culture and easy access to certain facilities necessary for the growth of the industry such as festivals and exchange programmes.

In closing the deliberation it was agreed in the house that we must continue to advocate for a ministry for arts and culture and advocate for funding for the sector from government.

Group Work

Group work for the delegates was based on the presentation by Mr. Nyapimbi and the recommendations for National Chapters post Bamako. The aim of the exercise was to ascertain the needs of the Zambia Chapter.

Group one looked at practical tasks 1 and 2, group two at tasks 3 and 4 while group 3 looked at the 5, 6 and 7.

Most of the recommendations were adopted as key needs for the Zambia sector. The most proponent being task 4 dealing with research[1] as a basis of growing the industry.

Mr. Nyapimbi’s observation from the group presentation was that they were few industries in the sector.  Hence it was critical to have a SWOT analysis done by the steering committee for the art sector.

There was also need to identify focus persons in various line ministries in the country. He also encouraged the delegates to familiarise themselves with the culture policy as a way of putting government to task.

Elections

Elections were held to usher into office an interim committee to kick start the activities of the Arterial Network. The office bearers are

• Chair: Andrew Mulenga
• Vice Chair:Becky Ngoma
• Secretary: Clive Kawana
• Member: Mwape  Mumbi
• Member: Dorothy Musukwa                 

Yezi arts will provide the secretariat for the operations of Arterial Zambia until the Chapter can stand on its own.

The Workshop in Media training of the arts and culture.

Sadly this workshop did not take place due t the poor attendance from media houses, despite them confirming their attendance to the workshop. Out of the twenty- two confirmed participates, only five showed up for the workshop. The poor attendance would have been due to another big workshop being held in Lusaka at the same time and the transport refund the lack of sitting in allowance that most people have become accustomed to.

In the interest of maximising cost, we call off the media workshop. However all was not entirely lost. Mr. Nyapimbi held a session with the media personal and highlighted some of the achievement of artists in Zimbabwe on issues of       advocacy and their continued collaboration with the media in disseminating these issues. He outlined the challenges that the artists have continued to face in the coalition government as it seems to be still operating on party lines.

}Yezi Arts also provoked the thinking of the media personal by providing them with other literatures [2] that move the arts and culture sector from the social to economical front.

Future plans for the coming month/s

Due to the upcoming National elections in September, they could be unforeseen delays in the implementation of some programmes.

The key activity for the coming month would be to hold a formal meeting for the interim steering committee to come up with an indicative programme that would probably include

• Plan of action to re-launch the Zambian Chapter on the Copperbelt Province
• Facilitate for at least three monthly discussions under the hospice of the Arterial network.
• Advocate for the inclusion of the ministry of Arts and Culture in the government structure