A lack of funds is what most young Namibian artists reference as their biggest difficulty. It’s what leads many Namibian artists to working a full time job to fund their passion, their art. However collaborative opportunities are available to young artists that focus on helping artists reach their dreams. One such opportunity comes as a project spearheaded by the Goethe-Institut Namibia. The project is the Goethe Stage, and it provides financial and coaching assistance to twelve Namibian artists per year. Four times a year, applications are accepted to fund Namibian art projects and dreams, and right now applications are being accepted for the next group of artists to be supported. 99FM’s MYD art spoke to Lendl Izaaks, Press and Communications for the Goethe-Institut Namibia, to find out more about this exciting project.
“Art is a tool society can use as a way of creating awareness and reflecting on itself, for members to engage in the discourse regarding topics relevant to the intercultural development of Namibia. The Goethe-Institut encourages that discourse through creating the platform for and assisting new, young and local artists in exploring their creativity and developing their artistic skills.”
“The Goethe Stage supports new, upcoming, experimental and small scale artistic works, whilst maintaining sensitivity to the chosen context. There is no preferred discipline and the Goethe-Institut encourages collaboration amongst artists, to share ideas and develop skills. Art is a tool society can use as a way of creating awareness and reflecting on itself, for members to engage in the discourse regarding topics relevant to the intercultural development of Namibia. The Goethe-Institut encourages that discourse through creating the platform for and assisting new, young and local artists in exploring their creativity and developing their artistic skills. Anybody can apply.” Says Lendl.
Projects and artists already funded by the Goethe Stage include a vast array of disciplines including Fashion Designer Fallon Tambwe’s exhibition and Sepiso Mwange who held a six week Arts and Literacy workshop for Namibian youth in Katutura titled, W.A.R. (Write, Act Read).
Some of the artists that have been supported this year include, Blessing Mbonambi, who is working on a one-act theatre piece that depicts a man’s loss of his love. This play will be staged on the 12th and 13th of May at the Goethe-Institut Namibia. Another project supported this year includes, Photographer and Film Maker Hildegard Titus, whose project is exploring the depiction of Namibians during the colonial years that challenges the subsequent stereotypes of today.
“Goethe Stage goes beyond funding and assists by providing advice and guiding an upcoming artist towards materialising their project. This means that at the end of the Goethe Stage there are more artists in Namibia with the skills and knowledge to produce their work and have a voice in the national discourse of intercultural development on issues relevant to a developing Namibia.”
Proposals are evaluated by an independent jury that is made up of artists, academics, media correspondents and business people explains Lendl who goes on to say, “All projects are selected on their own merit and no selection process is biased.”
Lendl explains that “Goethe Stage goes beyond funding and assists by providing advice and guiding an upcoming artist towards materialising their project. This means that at the end of the Goethe Stage there are more artists in Namibia with the skills and knowledge to produce their work and have a voice in the national discourse of intercultural development on issues relevant to a developing Namibia.”
“Local artists have the potential to sustain themselves through their talent but without that initial support, both financially and through advice, many often depend on another job and thus don’t have time, or lose the passion to focus on developing their artistic skill. The Goethe-Institut aims to change the perception of arts as a mere hobby and encourage the appreciation and exchange of culture through the arts.”
“The mandate of the Goethe-Institut worldwide is to promote intercultural collaboration through the arts. With financial assistance and other guidance, the Goethe-Institut encourages local artists to create and stimulate the national discourse in arts and the role it plays in the social and cultural development of Namibia. Local artists have the potential to sustain themselves through their talent but without that initial support, both financially and through advice, many often depend on another job and thus don’t have time, or lose the passion to focus on developing their artistic skill. The Goethe-Institut aims to change the perception of arts as a mere hobby and encourage the appreciation and exchange of culture through the arts.”
If you would like to fast track your dreams as an artist and through guidance and support get your artistic ideas in front of a bigger audience, then this could be how you do that.
Complete the Goethe Stage application and read the project guidelines via the Goethe-Institut website by clicking here
More information:
The Goethe-Institut Namibia is one of over 16o around the world and makes use of this network for the arts and culture development in Namibia. Covering art, appreciation of the German language and intercultural exchange, the Goethe-Institut’s mandate is applied through facilitating the development of arts in the host country, by assisting local artists with their productions and by bringing artists from Germany to share their experience and skills with artists in Namibia.
Photo Credit : ©Goethe-Institut Namibia
Written by Kirsty Watermeyer