The government is soliciting views on the establishment of a national arts council for Botswana.

The National Arts Council for Botswana (NACB) would among other things lead to the development and growth of arts in Botswana.

Officiating at a consultative meeting on the formation of NACB at Maun lodge this week a senior officer from culture and youth department Mr Dean Molebatsi said the council would also help in poverty alleviation and employment creation.

Fundraising and funding he said, continue to be a big challenge and therefore the industry needed a dedicated structure.

Outlining objectives of the consultations on the proposed council Mrs Dineo Phuthi head of culture and performing arts division at the department said they wanted to solicit stakeholders' views on the proposed establishment of the council and also to develop a strategic focus on the operations and mandate of the council.

She said they wanted to identify the role, responsibilities and influence of the private sector on the activities of the council and also identify strategies of how business and arts partnerships would be formed and maintained. The department also wants to identify and determine appropriate sectors to be addressed and served by the council.

The deputy director of culture and youth Mr Batshani Tjiyapo said the arts sector is central to the country's development since the industry is a sustainable source of job creation. He said artists contribution on how the council should be run was vital since it was their baby and not of government, adding that his ministry was ready to support them in any way possible.

The participants welcomed the proposal, some saying it could not have come at a better time.

http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20080311&i=Culture_dept_mulls_arts_council