The controlling body in the cultural and creative industries; Cultural and Creative Industries Federations of South Africa (CCIFSA) in the Buffalo City Metro hosted the Inaugural State of the Arts Address and Engagement Session.
This historic event took place on March 19 at the Guild Theatre in East London, uniting artists under one roof to reflect on their shared experiences and endorse a collective program of action.
In attendance, the MEC for the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Sibulele Ngongo said from the gathering the department hopes to ascertain the needs of the artists in the province first-hand.
“We might not have gold or silver in our province, but we do have a lot of talent. Now we need that talent to financially sustain us because a lot of artists get famous but ultimately die poor because there are no incentives and proper retirement plans” she said.
Creative Arts Practitioner Yakha Mlali described the event as a great initiative towards change in the creative industry of the metro.
“It was a day filled with beautiful performances and speeches but there were also meaningful deliberations towards finding solutions for our artistic community.”
He said the gathering allowed them to critically evaluate their industry and lay the groundwork for collaboration.
Another attendee, singer and songwriter Nokuthula Mzendana said the event was a game changer. “The event ignited hope that things are really going to change for the better in the entertainment industry in our district and that the needs of the artists will be prioritised” she said.
