EU Backs Namibian Art

Namibia Fri 24-08-2007

EU Backs Namibian Art
By Frederick Philander

The Director-General of the National Planning Commission (NPC) on Friday expressed the government's appreciation to the European Commission for annually staging an arts exhibition to promote Namibian art.

Helmuth Angula, the NPC chief, was the keynote speaker at the exhibition. In his speach he said "This is a good opportunity for Namibian artists to exhibit their talents and skills through their artwork, which the European Commission has generously supported and which has brought recognition to promising, upcoming and prominent Namibian visual artists once a year," said Angula.

Art By John Muafengejo

^{Untitled by John Muafengejo}

In his opinion, throughout history artists worldwide have utilized their skills as a vehicle to illuminate human conditions, contribute to the vitality of their communities and have helped to broaden the aesthetic landscape and promote social development, change and democratic dialogue.

"Artists have also helped us to interpret our past, define our present, and imagine the future. Being aware that many artists in the history of the world have struggled to make a career as artists, I can safely say that world-renowned artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rhyn are typical examples of artists who died poor, but their artworks sell for millions today at world art auctions," he said.

It is against such a background that I can proudly say the Government of the Republic of Namibia developed an Arts and Culture Policy in 2001 to ensure that the livelihood of artists in this country is supported by the state. "Arts and cultural activities help bring a community to life and define its unique characteristics - whether the community is a large city, a small town or a village.

"It includes a community's history as well as its dreams and visions for the future. "It is impossible to imagine being without the creative part of a community - whether arts appear on walls, libraries, museums, television or in our streets through artistic designs of advertisements, our clothing, or even architecture," he claimed.

Angula also thanked the participating artists for their capacity to take those present into their inner world by encouraging them to pursue their creative expression of human feelings.

He concluded by saying: "I strongly believe that this arts exhibition achieves its objectives of showing the European Community the diversity of Namibian cultures. I see this exhibition as another way of continuing traditional storytelling. Just as elders pass on the stories they were told, these artists have their own stories to tell in different ways.

"Whether these artists are students or teachers, or working adults, they require a boldness of imagination, they desire to do things differently at work or in the community, and to excel in new ways."

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