Artists and professionalism
On Thursday 23 October, the 5.30pm Artists’ Voices Discussion at The Book Café presents the topic: “Artists & Professionalism”.
Organised by arts organisation Pamberi Trust, this platform to discuss artistic issues and help build the industry has been going on at The Book Café for some years, where artists raise issues for discussion which are relevant to their survival and success.
The topic for discussion on Thursday 23 arises from allegations by some artists of marginalization by the business community and venue operators, where they claim only a few acclaimed artists enjoy the larger piece of ‘the cake’ from the corporate world and live arts venues. On the other hand, these sectors seem to speak with one voice, complaining about the lack of professionalism among many artists, hence the bias on the few that are reliable and consistent.
The panel includes Zimbabwean artists Dudu Manhenga, Sam Mtukudzi and the robust poet Cde Fatso (still to be confirmed), and chaired by Pamberi Trust project officer Mandla Ncube.
The three speakers are all at various levels of developing their careers and have worked closely with venue managers, corporate and diplomatic communities.
We believe it could be a benefiting experience for the three to share with other artists on the need to be respectable and professional artists so they can be taken seriously by influential stakeholders who drive the industry.
Sam Mtukudzi is a rising star in Zimbabwe’s music circles who has certainly learned some of his working skills from his father Oliver Mtukudzi which he is applying in his own AY Band. Dudu Manhenga has build her band ‘Color Blu’ into a highly professional and viable music group that has performed widely to great acclaim in Zimbabwe and the region, and established important links and networks within the industry. Cde Fatso is one of Zimbabwe’s best-known protest poets, who has performed widely in the southern African region and the UK, both as a solo poet and together with his backing band ‘Chavondoka’.
Project officer and discussion chairman Mandla Ncube said “I truly believe that there is a huge need for artists to scrap the mentality of living in a vacuum and learn to respond to the needs and changes of the business world. Professionalism comes with respect, respect yourself and the work that you do. For people to appreciate and invest in what you do there has to be a trail of transparency, honesty and commitment. Those are the basics to a professional artist. Professionalism is not about loads of money, fame or owning a drum kit, but it’s about how artists conduct themselves as partners for successful business. I hope this discussion will bring understanding, clarity, and help to solve issues relating to that”.
All artists are welcome and the discussion will start promptly at 5.30 and end by 7pm.
ARTISTS’ VOICES DISCUSSION: “ARTISTS & PROFESSIONALISM”
Thursday 23 October 2008, 5.30-7pm
The Book Café, Fife Ave Mall, Harare
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