By Obakeng Maje
Taung- This was supposed to be a fruitful meeting between the artists across the province and North West Provincial Legislature, but things turned out horrible wrong.

North West artists were up in arms, fuming and disrupted the Arts and Culture Sectoral Parliament event held at Mmabana Taung on Friday.

The event was graced by dignitaries like North West Provincial Legislature Chairperson of Finance Motlalepula Rosho, Chairperson of Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs Boitumelo Moiloa amongst others.

The theme of the event was “The Role of Arts & Culture in Moving South Africa forward”.

However that was not the case as many artists boycotted the proceedings.

They showcased hostile action against the chairperson Boitumelo Moiloa who was at the podium by booing her.

Most of the artists said they could not understand the use of this event and alleged the government of North West does not care about them as their grievances fell in deaf ears.

“We disrupted the meeting because there is no communication between provincial, the districts and service point managers. We met so many times with the department of Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs raising our challenges as artists, but we do not get any response. We want to meet with North West premier Supra Mahumapelo to heed to our call”.

“Artists played an integral role during apartheid, and many died as puppets..we do not want to die as such. We want the department of Arts & Culture to make sure the artists are well-developed. We need to deal with socio-economic issues that affect artists too” Medupi Mapitsa from Potchefstroom, North West said.

The artists agreed to continue with the meeting after a further intervention as the leadership that was there, was new and Chairperson of Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs Boitumelo Moiloa said they noted the artists’ grievances.

“We will do a follow-up on those issues and as sectoral parliament, we will meeting with districts and service-points managers in all regions. After the meeting, we will come back to them [artists] to give them feedback” Boitumelo Moiloa said.

Artists alleged that they are not recognized and they contribute immensely in the province’s economy.

“The creative economy has garnered more attention in provincial and international policy circles. The creative economy envisions creativity as an input into the province economic engine. So visual artists must capitalize on the creative economy philosophy, they need to become wittingly or unwittingly commercial agents with more effective business skills than ever before” said Sonwabo Nongonyana.
-TDN
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