Baf 2017 aims to promote local talent

All is set for the Blantyre Arts Festival 2017 which is giving a platform to local artists and promoting local appreciation of home grown talent.

BAF public relations officer Luckier Chikopa told On The Arts that this year’s festival is receiving positive responses due to its uniqueness of promoting local talent.

She said with support from Hivos Foundation through Cultural Funds for Malawi, BAF 2017 will run from October 6 to 8.

Said Chikopa: “Apart from the impact the festival is making by providing the much-needed exposure to artists in Malawi, BAF 2017 has decided to have a market zone. The market zone will give an opportunity to small-scale businesses to exhibit and selltheir products. We believe doing so will help the small-scale businesses thrive and also contribute to the cultural economic fabric of Malawi during the three days of such a big festival.”

Apart from selling their various products, the small-scale business community will have a chance to expose their business to the public so that they can make contacts and enhance their business.

Organisers have also announced a photo exhibition by the German Ambassador Juergen Borsch.

The ambassador will show over 30 photos of Berlin, Capital City of Germany in an exhibition titled My Berlin City.

BAF has also received support from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa).

The festival will be opened by the minister responsible for culture in Malawi Cecilia Chazama on Friday October 6 where, among others, there will be various youth cultural activities as BAF outreach programme.

BAF is an all encompassing arts festival which accommodates various arts disciplines. During the festival, local artists have a chance of being exposed  and their creative works gain an additional market at international level.

This year BAF has two venues, Blantyre Cultural Centre and Jacaranda Cultural Centre at Mandala. The theme for BAF 2017 is 100% local.