MEDIA and arts experts have called upon civic society organisations (CSOs) to strengthen collaborations with artists and journalists in packaging development information for effective advocacy for improved citizens’ livelihoods and open societies.
Speaking at the African Philanthropy Network (APN) Assembly, which started on Monday and ends today in Victoria Falls, the arts and media experts bemoaned how various sectors have been working in silos to the detriment of civic engagement and citizen participation in development work.
The APN Assembly brought together over 200 delegates drawn from at least 20 countries as a platform to explore innovative Pan-African ideas that address the economic inequalities, social injustices and environmental concerns confronting the continent.
APN researcher and Tanzanian journalist Karen Chalamilla said CSOs, media practitioners and artists needed to see value in each other's role.
“The crux of the matter is that CSOs, media and artists need to see value in each other’s work. These three parties have a lot in common in the work they do in inspiring change,” she said.
“Artists have the capacity to reach wider audiences that CSOs cannot ordinarily reach, while the media have the necessary skills to harness information and use various mediums to prompt actions that bring about change.”
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Prominent Zimbabwean artist Chirikure Chirikure said there wasscope for artists and CSOs to forge partnerships that amplified developmental messages.
“Artists need to be equipped to understand the work of CSOs beyond just being commissioned to do one or two songs or to produce artistic works that are not sustainable,” he said.
“Philanthropic institutions need to include the media and artists in the formulation of their programmes such that art practitioners can mainstream development work as part of their craft.”
Media Alliance of Zimbabwe programmes manager Nigel Nyamutumbu said synergies among artists, CSOs and the media should consider the operating environment for journalists and advocacy for strengthening the media for accountability has to be amplified.
“For the media to effectively play its role of holding power accountable, informing society and as a conduit for the enjoyment of free expression, stakeholders in civic society and artists need to be mobilised to advocate for an improved policy environment for the media,” he said.
“The media, on the other hand, must appreciate the concerns of CSOs and be capacitated to articulate developmental issues and to amplify the work of artists.”
The APN is running under the theme Collective Freedom from Collective Struggle and among those attending are dignitaries, top government officials including Arts, Sports and Culture permanent secretary Nicholas Moyo, veteran film director and producer Daves Guzha and prominent civic society activist Brian Kagoro.