By: Yunus S. Saliu
The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) on Tuesday hosted a meeting between Artists Without Borders Gambia Chapter and local artists to explore ways of strengthening collaboration, capacity building and the development of Gambia’s creative industry.
The engagement, held at the NCAC Research and Documentation Department Annex in Fajara, brought together more than 30 participants, including musicians, filmmakers, dancers, writers, instrumentalists, academics, students and representatives of cultural and tourism institutions.
Among the participating organizations: were the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), the Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) Gambia.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Senior Assistant Secretary Ebrima Baldeh encouraged young artists to view the creative sector as an important contributor to national development.
He said music and the arts play a key role in preserving and promoting The Gambia’s culture, identity and history while enhancing the country’s image internationally.
“Music has gone beyond melody. It carries a message, and that message represents who we are as a people,” Baldeh said.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the creative sector through the National Centre for Arts and Culture.
NCAC Director of Literature and Performing Arts Sanna B. Jarju said the meeting provided an opportunity for artists, cultural institutions and development partners to strengthen cooperation and advance the country’s creative industry.
He also highlighted the participation of Gambian artists in the ECOFEST Festival of Arts and Culture held in Dakar, Senegal, last year.
Founder and Director of Artists Without Borders, Lech Szporer, outlined the organisation’s vision of promoting arts and culture as tools for education, community development and social change.
He said The Gambia had become the first country to establish a chapter of Artists Without Borders, describing the development as an important milestone for the organisation and the country’s creative sector.
According to Szporer, the chapter aims to build a network of artists capable of contributing to national development, creating opportunities for young people and supporting the growth of a sustainable creative industry.
Participants also exchanged views on challenges facing the arts sector and discussed opportunities for partnerships to promote artistic excellence and cultural development.
Organisers said the engagement marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between Artists Without Borders, Gambian artists and cultural institutions to support the growth of the country’s creative economy.