VISUAL ARTS HAVE POTENTIAL TO BOOST ECONOMY

The Zambia Visual Arts has appealed to Government to consider investing in tourism through Visual Arts to help boost the economy.

Bonwell Kalilakwenda, a craftsman said government should assist Visual Artists to export their products abroad.

“Most tourists are keen on having artifacts from Zambia but can only come in the country during the festive season and exporting to their countries would enable them to buy the products all year round hence maximising profit,”Kalilakwenda said.

And Henry Mkandawire, a painter and student at the University of Zambia (UNZA) said, the paintings of landscapes such as the Victoria Falls and the Zambian culture in general helped in advertising the tourism sector and brought more income into the country.

Mkandawire added that the business conducted was of a private nature because government has provided minimal funds and majority of the customers come from abroad.

He further stated that government should also make Visual Arts an industry like the music industry so that local people can easily relate to it.

However, Joshua Banda a gem tree maker said the Chinese where slowing down business for local traders because they bring in their own products at a cheaper price and attract a lot of market from the local people.

He added that certain products that require the use of copper are very difficult to make due to the fact that copper prices have escalated on the international market.

Meanwhile, Vicky Kivetova a Scandinavian tourist, said Zambia has a promising number of young artists whose works would make a very big impact on the international market.

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