Domestic artists have been urged to join the newly created arts organization, namely Arterial Network, and participate in the first ever election of the body’s officials for the Tanzanian Chapter, scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam at the end of this month.

Maggie Otieno

The head of Arterial Network’s East Africa Secretariat, Maggie Otieno, said artists that will be eligible for participating in the election should first secure the body’s membership, which will ultimately ensure they fully play part in effective promotion and development of the profession.

She called on all Tanzanian artists, including Visual, performing, poets, theatre, festival organizers, photographers and the rest in the field to join the network in effecting changes in the African creative sector in the country.  “Arterial network is a Pan African organization that plays the vital role of advocator and facilitator towards empowering artists and cultural actors within the countries it operates in”, she said.

She said the organization strives to achieve its goal by building the artists’ capacity towards creating and supporting a positive environment propitious to the growth of a vibrant, responsible and self sustained cultural sector.  Maggie said Arterial Network offers numerous opportunities for artists and cultural practitioners to participate in events across the continent.

“Arterial Network works with National Chapters to create a closer bond between grassroots’ art and culture practitioners, the government and civil society in order to thrive and get support”, she said, adding that artists that are willing to secure the body’s membership should sign through the network’s website link.

The organization currently has eight National Chapters in as many countries within the East African Region. She requested all domestic artists in the sector to join hands and attend in numbers in the forthcoming election so that they could elect the Tanzanian Chapter’s representatives.

“Details will be communicated through Gadi Ramadhani (Arterial Network, Tanzanian Chapter’s member), who will help the East African Regional secretariat to prepare the elections and come up with suitable dates”, said Maggie.

She insisted that candidates wishing to vie for positions in the National Chapters should be people with clear and excellent knowledge of the art and culture industry in their respective countries and should push agenda for the sector forward.

By JAPHETH KAZENGA, Tanzania Daily News