Govt urged to promote standards in the creative industry

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Players in the creative industry note that despite the huge potential the industry possesses, they continue to be limited to regional and international markets due to a lack of standards to work with.

According to Charity Kalebbo, the chairperson of Smaagris Nimilo, a non-profit organisation, supporting marginalised communities through art, whereas private sector players have continued to develop the crafts amidst numerous challenges, their products struggle to post returns as they are deemed of poor quality.

Kalebbo was speaking recently during a media briefing held at White Pala’ti in Bugolobi ahead of the 3rd edition of Brushes and Beats, an annual event that seeks to celebrate players in the creative industry and highlight their plight.

She noted art has the potential to change the livelihood of several young people and marginalised women while exposing them to the creative industry that employs millions globally.

“We are a small group here but with the ability to change the world. All we request are standards from the authorities and also funding to enable us to purchase machinery that can improve our output,” Kalebbo added.

She explained that currently, they are supporting startup artists to register for intellectual property to protect their ideas from being stolen by others in the same space. This, she says, can be efficiently done through boosting the tourism budget.

“The government is pushing the Tenfold growth strategy, and we believe we can play our part through boost returns via the tourism sector. We need to be supported to access these opportunities that foreign tourists possess.”

Meanwhile, the chief executive officer, Smaagris Nimilo Cathy, Jackie Mwosana says the power to change the world is in the hands of everyone, irrespective of their background. Mwosana noted that it is essential for the youth to adopt digitisation to connect with millions of potential clients worldwide.

“We are a startup but already creating a difference in society. Our request to the government is to extend a helping hand to such as funds so we can skill the youth and empower them to create employment. The market is available but we need to position ourselves strategically to benefit.”

Monosa also rallied those in the art and craft business to embrace the Sana Duuka platform and market as a unit as the digital space thrives more on numbers than small individual websites marketing the same products.

“The power of digital marketing is in numbers. If we work jointly, we create a wider market and products are bought in bulk. This way, we empower ourselves and everyone wins at the end of the business cycle.”

This year’s edition is expected to attract hundreds from different walks of life, such as schools, with the end goal of celebrating those impacting society through art.

Global findings

A Creative Economy Outlook report by United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 2021 indicated that the global exports of creative goods increased from $419m in 2010 to $524m in 2020, while world exports of creative services increased from $ 487 b to almost $ 1.1t during the same period.

Additional report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) indicates cultural and creative industries that generate annual global revenues of $2,250b, nearly 30 million jobs worldwide and employ more people aged 15−29 than any other sector.

This shows the transformative potential of the creative economy to increase export earnings, create employment opportunities for the young population and accelerate socio-economic growth.