ARTISTES in the country have to be content with fame, but not fortune.
One of the country’s big awards ceremony to be held next month, the National Arts and Merits Awards (NAMA), running under the theme, ‘Pride of Zimbabwe’, cannot promise a monetary reward to accompany the certificate and trophy awarded to winners.
According to the awards organisers the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NAC) communications and marketing officer Catherine Mthombeni, “The premise is to show pride in the arts, its versatility and diversity.
“It is also to instill pride in artists as individuals and to celebrate with them their achievements.”
The NAC said it created opportunities for art disciplines to jointly market and publicise the arts locally, regionally and internationally as well as break the isolation that is caused by cultural distinctiveness through bringing together various talented and skilled individuals.
The event slated for February 14 at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare, will see 35 awards given to winners in nine categories, music, literary, dance, visual, film and television, theatre, media, spoken word and special awards.
“The intention (of the awards) is to empower the artistes as individuals and as artistes to take pride in their assorted works that not only reflect on their power in creativity, but also reward artistes that have helped shape and define Zimbabweans and give them a collective identity through artworks that are proudly ‘made in Zimbabwe,” said Mthombeni.