An arts trade union will before the end of this year convene a symposium to iron out issues faced by female artistes.
BY ALOIS VINGA
The Trade Union for Music and Arts Industry (Tumai) gender chairperson, Elister Chamisa told NewsDay that plans had reached an advanced stage for the high level meeting meant to eradicate gender barriers in the arts industry.
“Female artistes face many challenges that hinder them from tapping effectively into their full potential. Many are perceived as organised sex workers. Some have been kicked out of marriages while others have been forced to give up their careers soon after getting married,” she said.
“When you look at it from a professional level, you discover that several female artistes have chickened out of pursuing their potential as a result of lacking knowledge and resources.”
Chamisa called on female artistes to attend the symposium in order to identify and assist each other in critical areas.
The symposium, which will be held under the theme Female Artistes a Vision for Tomorrow, reinforces the recommendations and observation made in 2009 Baseline Study on the Culture Sector in Zimbabwe.
The study noted that women constitute an approximate 30% of total number of people depending on the culture sector for livelihoods.
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It recommended arts regulatory authorities to develop a clear gender policy to deliberately promote women in the culture sector and strengthen linkages and partnerships with organisations funding women in small and medium enterprises so that women in the arts and culture also benefited.
