The Minister of Tourism and Culture in The Gambia signed the Regulation on the National Endowment Fund for Art and Culture for the first time, to provide funding for artistes. The signing came after a survey on the condition of female artistes in The Gambia and a series of training sessions that certified 100 artistes in aspects such as copyright, networking and marketing of cultural goods. The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has been working with artistes since July 2022 under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Aschberg project, which aims to improve the status and condition of female artistes. The regulation will be Gazetted, and the minister will engage the National Assembly to secure the funds needed to support the Fund.
In light of the recent news by AllAfrica, the Minister of Tourism and Culture in The Gambia, Hamat N.K. Bah, signed the Regulation on the National Endowment Fund for Art and Culture for the first time in the country. This move is a significant milestone in the history of arts and culture funding in The Gambia, as it shows the government’s readiness to support artists for job creation, economic upliftment, and the production of works that reflect Gambian values and norms.
The signing of the regulation came after a report on a survey conducted on the condition of female artists in The Gambia. The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) trained one hundred female artists and cultural professionals in aspects such as copyright, networking, and marketing of cultural goods in December 2022. The training was within the framework of the 2021 Call for Projects, which the NCAC submitted, and the Evaluation Committee selected the project in May 2022.
The NCAC has been working with artists since July 2022 on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Aschberg project titled “Improving the Status and Condition of Female Artists.” Minister Bah commended the NCAC for its efforts in supporting artists and cultural professionals and stated that he believes Gambian artists can do better than artists in other countries when they receive the needed funding support.
NCAC’s Director General, Hassoum Ceesay, expressed his pleasure at the signing of the regulation, as it would help Gambian artists get regular funding to support their work. He recalled that for close to two decades, they had never been able to operationalize the National Endowment Fund due to a lack of regulation. Now, with the regulation in place, they can finally provide the necessary support to artists and cultural professionals in The Gambia.
Minister Bah pointed out that the regulation, which has been signed, would be Gazetted, and he would go to Cabinet and engage the National Assembly to get the funds needed to support and beef up the Fund. This is a positive step towards creating a vibrant arts and culture sector in The Gambia and supporting artists to create works that reflect the country’s values and norms.
To bring the curtain down, the signing of the Regulation on the National Endowment Fund for Art and Culture in The Gambia is a significant milestone that shows the government’s commitment to supporting artists and cultural professionals. The regulation will help to create job opportunities, uplift the economy, and produce works that reflect Gambian values and norms. With the necessary funding and support, Gambian artists can showcase their talents and creativity on the global stage and make significant contributions to the country’s cultural heritage.
