Creatives hit hard by govt liquidity challenges

Batswana creatives are in a lot of pain. Whenever the government suffers a financial crunch, they are always the first casualty.The cry follows a recent announcement by the National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) about the current financial constraints and liquidity challenges faced by the Government, which have affected the Council.Subvention funds allocated to support the implementation of key programmes have been significantly reduced, compelling the Council to reprioritise its programming within the available limited resources, according to the Council in a recent press release.Following consultations with the Ministry of Sport and Arts, the Council resolved to suspend subsequent activities of the ongoing National Arts Festival until further notice.“This means that the Regional Festivals and the National Carnival will not proceed as initially planned. Furthermore, the 2025/2026 Arts and Culture Grant cycle will be delayed, as funds earmarked forthe programme have not yet been disbursed,” the Council announced.Despite these challenges, the Council remains committed to honouring all financial obligations already incurred.“Payments to prize winners across different categories, as well as to suppliers and coordinators who have contributed to the success of the National Arts Festival, are being processed and will be concluded in due course,” it said.In the interim, the Council is actively engaging with various stakeholders to secure alternative support for the delivery of its core programmes.While the Council acknowledges the inconvenience this development will cause to the Arts and Creative Industry of Botswana, it is committed to accelerating its resource mobilisation efforts to mitigate the impact of the current fiscal environment.According to the Secretary General of the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU), Rasina Winfred Rasina, while they are aware of the financial constraints faced by the Arts Council, they wonder why they are always the first to feel the pinch.“The Creative Industry is always the first financial casualty. The National Arts Festival had to come to an abrupt end because the Arts Council did not receive enough money to proceed with the National Arts Festival as planned,” he said.This is also a moment where all concerned parties have to agree that they can’t proceed with the National Arts Festival in its current format.“It is not sustainable. It is more of a welfare programme than an artistic development project. MYSC managed this format because it had ample resources,” he said, noting that the Arts Council is under-resourced.Rasina said that at BOMU, they have always made it clear that projects and programmes should have a deliberate intention, target, and purpose. “Because at BOMU we primarily focus on development, we find ourselves direct financial casualties whenever the Government goes on a cost-cutting mode,“ he said.The Arts Council should be resourced to fulfil its objectives, mission, and vision. Without the desperately needed funding, the Arts Council cannot be operational, he said.“We are pleading with the Government to release funds to the Arts Council so that the Botswana Creative Industry can be functional and operational. We need to be honest that the inability of theArts Council to execute its mandate, strategic plans, objectives, programmes, and projects, such as the National Arts Festival, is merely because the Arts Council is not financially resourced to pursue its intended mandate,” Rasina said.Creatives have also taken to social media to air their frustrations at this development and how the council has been handling the National Arts Festival.The model, according to creatives, was expensive and not sustainable. Others have noted that the council should have used the same model that was used by MYSC when it was running the then President’s Day competitions.Many have shared that they saw this coming. One of those who expressed their frustration was Andrew Kola, who advised NACB to adjust a few things, including coordinators' and adjudicators' fees.He said there was no need to spend money on décor, and that even VDC chairs can do the work.“We don't need Decor at the Constituency level,” he said, noting that technical supplies are too expensive for the constituency. The amount of money spent here is not feasible, he explained. He also urged the council to consult stakeholders in order to get guidance on how they can run a successful programme.Another creative, Kedirile Kemaketse, said the initial miscalculation lies in the transition itself. He said that they could have permitted MYSC to illuminate the path, guide the process with prudenceand institutional wisdom.“We, the creatives, cautioned against this model; we raised our voices not in defiance but in concern. Yet our counsel was dismissed, our insight undervalued. The aftermath is not merely administrative; it strikes at the heart of creativity, dimming the rhythm that once breathed life into our collective artistry,” he cried.

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Creatives hit hard by govt liquidity challenges