Sports, Culture and Heritage CS Amina Mohamed on Monday, May 11, made good on President Uhuru Kenyatta's promise for artistes where he ordered the Ministry to release Ksh100 Million to cushion Kenyan artists, actors and musicians, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking during the launch of the KSH100 Million stimulus package for artists, actors, and musicians at the Kenya National Theatre, CS Amina, however, revealed that cash hand-outs weren't feasible.
"Taking into account that the number of artists in the country is estimated to be way above 100,000, giving cash handouts would have been ineffective in cushioning households as well as broadening the societal Covid-19 safety education," she stated.
Given the above scenario, the Ministry adopted a Work for Pay model where money will be paid against the production of works geared towards promoting Covid-19 Creative Community Education.
According to the regulations establishing the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund (SASDF), the persons who can access the fund for resources are classified under sports organisations, professional sportspersons, or government implementing agencies.
The distribution of the funds will be implemented by the departments and agencies under the State Department of Culture and Heritage with the Department of Culture expected to engage visual artists to develop visual works such as paintings, drawings, photography, crafts, cartoons, print-making, ceramics and comedians to reinforce messages of Covid-19 and advocate safe behavior change among Kenyans.
The Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC) will engage musicians and dancers in the sector to create awareness, sensitisation and educational messaging on the Covid-19 pandemic while the National Museums of Kenya will work with visual artists to produce murals and graffiti in various public spaces and public parks reinforcing health education to combat Covid-19.
Kenya Cultural Centre will work with actors, poets, spoken word artists, storytellers to tell diverse stories of Covid-19 and how communities are coping with the pandemic and the Kenya Film Commission will work with film producers to create productions around the Covid-19 pandemic.
During her address, CS Amina noted that the pandemic had exposed artists and associated supporting ecosystems to bankruptcy and despondency adding that a substantial number of creatives/artists were facing threats of starvation, destitution and social instability for they could no longer afford to provide basic needs to their families such as housing, food and healthcare.
She further noted that most artists had been blocked from accessing spaces and institutions where they would ordinarily showcase the products of their artistic ingenuity.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Kenya Script Writers Guild (KSWG) chairperson Gatwiri Bundi recorded the organisation's appreciation over the efforts the government had put in place to cushion those employed in the creative industry terming the Together At Home initiative is a timely project and one that we hope will have a stimulating impact on the industry.
"The strategy to channel funds into a targeted program with a specific timeline from May to July will hopefully allow better implementation. Of concern will be monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the program objectives have been met with a tangible output from every creative who receives funds. We await further instruction on the structure of the program to advise our members better on how they can apply for the funding.
She added, "As a guild, members will work to write scripts through the 14 days Script Challenge that will be produced towards the Together At Home program."
