Mayor implores creatives to be

The creative industry has the potential to build sustainable economic diversification enterprises through innovative ideas aligned with current and emerging trends. “As artists, you are creators of ideas, custodians of culture and contributors to the economic growth. The future of Botswana’s creative industry depends not only on talent, but also on professionalism, innovation, integrity, collaboration and the willingness to embrace continuously,” said Jwaneng mayor, Ronica Ntsimako, at the COSBOTS workshop in Jwaneng on Tuesday.

He said building a robust creative industry required artists to be professional and empowered to occupy their space in the economic development ecosystem. Ntsimako said armed with the right tools, they would contribute towards the country’s diversification objectives while at the same time creating sustainable job opportunities for others. Themed: Building a Professional Creative Industry, the workshop was intended to empower creatives to professionalise their art through understanding the importance of registering and licensing with organisations such as COSBOTS, CIPA and council.

The workshop also drilled participants on intellectual property and formalising their businesses, in an endeavour to tap on opportunities available in the market and earning royalties from their protected work. Ntsimako said government was committed to supporting and collaborating with industries that contributed to the country’s overall objective of economic development and job creation. “Together we can build a creative industry that is vibrant, sustainable and capable of transforming lives while contributing to Botswana’s diversification and national development,” he noted.

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COSBOTS licensing and sales manager, Boitumelo Monageng, underscored the need for creators to register their work in order to be compensated for their intellectual property. She said COSBOTS was mandated with collecting royalties from end users and distributing to registered creatives such as music and audiovisuals. In addition, she noted that COSBOTS played an important role in advocating for the creative industry, influencing policy development and building strategic collaborations that could develop the creative sector.

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