Staff Writer
Kunzwana Trust recently held two digital technologies workshops in Harare and Bulawayo under their Arts Factory project.
At least 18 participants gained insight and information on digital strategies for marketing and audience-building.
The workshops were part of Kunzwana Trust’s ARTS FACTORY project, supported by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust CreativeACTIONS programme, co-funded by the European Union.
The Harare workshop was held at Music Crossroads with good cooperation from that institution which continues to provide artists of Zimbabwe with sound music education.
The facilitating team comprised respected musicians and music teachers Nick Nare, Prudence Katomeni and Tom Collen, and Penny Yon, musician and arts administrator, of Kunzwana. Participants ranged from the youngest artists, Tendai Mavengeni (Mbira musician, singer), and singer-songwriters Nicholar Mutuwa and April Lloyd, to experienced artists like Ray Mupfumira, Tendex, Vee Mhofu and Tina Watyoka, along with the Fab Fusion duo Brennan and Faith Wyngard and the acclaimed researcher and writer Ms Joyce Jenje Makwenda.
Topics covered insights into the needs of artists, some Do’s and Don’ts in content creation from the promoter’s view; EPKs and developing digital identity; Digital Music Distribution on online platforms and Tools; Copyright/Intellectual Property, Authorship, Split sheets and Royalty Collection.
The Bulawayo digital technologies workshop held on 11 November 2021 was facilitated by William Sampindi, the Arts Director of 14th Avenue Digital, assisted by Ian White of Kunzwana Trust in the City of Kings.
Participants included young emerging artist Dalubuhle Mdlongwa (comedian), CeeJay Tshuma and Ethan Sesedza (musicians) Helen Nyati (vocalist), Natasha Nyoni (scriptwriter) and more established artists with already defined career trajectories Rachael Ncube (poet), Vuya Brown artists at the 11 Nov workshop (singer/songwriter) and Tariro Gurure (production manager).
The workshop took the form of inclusive and open sharing of experience in order to identify individual potential for self-actualisation based on cultural and artistic identity; Management strategies, Digital platforms – DIY self-promotion at low cost; Developing a digital identity; Being an artist in Bulawayo; The power of collaboration; Branding – image, consistency, context, authenticity and creativity; and The importance of context in creativity.
Participants in both cities agreed that such opportunities to advance in the digital space are crucial to artists’ survival in this online age, and the short workshop was able to offer insights and some brief but valuable information on where to find more.
Artists were grateful for the opportunity, but left calling for more such workshops with more time to grapple with the host of issues surrounding each area covered.
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