Coronavirus: The Arts Spaces Are Closed

Cancelled.It’s the word in email subject lines local artists have begun to dread.

The result of Namibia’s first two confirmed cases of the coronavirus and government’s nationwide call to refrain from big public gatherings for the next 30 days.

On Monday – despite the devastating financial implications to both the establishments and the artists who use their platforms to generate their daily bread – some of Windhoek’s most beloved art houses made the moral choice to temporarily close their doors.

To each, the public and communal consumption of art is one thing, and making sure to slow the spread of the highly contagious virus which has infected over 180 000 and killed upward of 7 000 worldwide, is another.

At the very beginning of the week, barely two days after the first cases of coronavirus were confirmed locally, closure announcements began to trickle in at around midday.

Art institutions and creative hubs such as the National Art Gallery of Namibia, the National Theatre of Namibia, the Goethe-Institut Namibia, The Brewers Market, The Project Room and the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre posted what was essentially the same message.

Sorry, we’re closed.

“The national theatre has had to either cancel or postpone at least six shows including rehearsals and auditions thus far. It’s very devastating as some of the artists’ livelihoods are directly affected. Besides the obvious loss of income for artists and businesses, I also see this as a loss of joy,” says National Theatre of Namibia public relations officer Desiree Mentor, who announced that the institution will be closed until 20 April.

“Times are already so hard with everything happening around the world that an evening of music, dance, drama or poetry can be healing and bonding. Art takes people out of themselves, relieves stress and tension by taking the mind off problems. The picture is changing so rapidly that it’s extremely difficult to predict anything concrete at this point.”

Similarly the Goethe-Institut Namibia, which hosts exhibitions, workshops, art talks as well as the popular monthly concert Night Under the Stars, has opted to close its office and postpone all events after the decision of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture to temporarily shutter schools and libraries.

“Restricting artists’ movement and not allowing anybody to convene in a large crowd inevitably interferes with and cripples the production of arts and culture,” says Goethe-Institut press and communications officer Lendl Izaaks.

“While national directives in this regard pose a challenge to creatives and limits operations, the Goethe-Institut Namibia is calling on creatives to embrace the opportunity and apply the benefits of other channels of communication such as telephones, texts, emails and online video conferences that do not require physical contact or the sharing of a space.”

Framing the government as well as the World Health Organisation’s social distancing directives as a challenge and opportunity for transformation, Izaaks encourages artists to do what they do best – get creative.

“Social media content and the presence of Namibia’s art and culture industry on digital platforms, be it in the form of photographs, memes, videos or sounds, should be the priority for creatives and their audiences to keep that relationship alive in anticipation of returning to what we are used to,” he says.

Turning to the digital in these trying times is The Project Room in collaboration with StArt Art Gallery, who will be moving their retrospective ‘Flashback’ by Tony Figueira online.

“This means that we will try and create as much a virtual exhibition as we can with a digital catalogue. We will all miss the social get-together but at the moment it is more important to protect everyone’s health and safety by moving around as little as possible,” says The Project Room’s Frieda Lühl, who says currently The Project Room, an independent art gallery, is closed to the public.

“On the opening day we will distribute a digital catalogue online. This will allow people to view the exhibition and purchase the artworks at home on their computers or phones. I hope that people will still support the arts even if it is virtual for now.”

Though finding ways to support the arts financially at this time may be challenging, Mentor has a heartening suggestion for events that make use of ticket sales.

“This is an unprecedented crisis so one way the public members can assist is to perhaps reconsider any refund requests in the event of shows being cancelled. They can, in turn, sponsor or donate ticket monies to the companies and or artists as this can help a great deal,” she says. In terms of legacy and the crucial work of spreading awareness and best practices to contain the coronavirus, Izaaks suggests that therein lies another opportunity for artists.

“The important role of our creatives in coping with this pandemic should not be overlooked. HIV-Aids in the 90s brought the red ribbon which transformed into the pink one for breast cancer and other colours representing the awareness of other matters. Those objects have become post-modern cultural artefacts that communicate a message and have a meaning the majority understand and are thus aware of,” Izaaks says.

“This is a great time for creatives in Namibia to manufacture another symbol in relation to Covid-19 and successfully raise awareness for the nation to collectively feel the trust in each other and fight the pandemic.

“Creatives in Namibia either individually or collectively could see what they can produce to create awareness for Namibians while motivating them to make well-informed decisions to prevent the virus from spreading or taking lives in Namibia.

“We believe that through adherence to national directives, cooperation and the application of the internationally accredited precautionary measures, Namibia and its creatives could survive this pandemic with a badge of honour.”

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook; marthamukaiwa.com

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