Bulawayo City Council responds to criticism with inclusive Bulawayo Arts Festival line-up

Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has made a move to signal a commitment to inclusivity, extending the scope of participation for this year’s Bulawayo Arts Festival (BAF), addressing concerns raised by local artistes who felt side-lined in last year’s festivities.
Last year’s festival, which focused predominantly on music and poetry, left many visual artists and other creatives feeling neglected. This oversight increased scrutiny of the council’s curation of the event and sparked a call for broader representation in the arts.
Responding to these concerns, Town Clerk Christopher Dube announced via social media that this year’s festival will welcome not only musicians, dancers, and poets but also visual artists, sculptors, culinary artists, and craftspeople. This expanded focus aims to create a more diverse and vibrant artistic representation, allowing all forms of creativity to shine.
“The invitation is to artists in visual arts, music, dance, poetry, theatre, culinary arts, crafts, sculpture,” Dube stated.
Artistes interested in participating are encouraged to submit their proposals to the City Council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Office, headed by the multi-talented Nomashawekazi “Lady Tshawe” Damasane.
Proposals can also be sent via email to [email protected]. The submission deadline is February 28, with the festival scheduled to take place from June 2 to June 5.
The BAF has a significant place in the cultural calendar of Bulawayo, especially since the City officially declared June 2 as ‘Bulawayo Day’ in 2019, marking the beginning of an annual Arts Festival week.
Last year’s theme, #RESTART, aimed to rejuvenate the arts scene post-pandemic, and this year’s event is expected to build on that momentum.
This call will surely leave local creatives hopeful that this year’s inclusive approach will foster a vibrant artistic community, showcasing the full spectrum of talent that Bulawayo has to offer.
– Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
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