Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage organised, a workshop, yesterday, at the Maritim Hotel, Balaclava on budgetary measures 2022/2023 and the status of the Artist Bill with a view to provide assistance to artists.
The workshop, organised for officers of the Ministry and artists of all categories, focused on different schemes available including the National Arts Fund to finance artistic and creative projects, International Travel Grant, COVID-19 Support Plan and Action Plan, Self-Employment Assistance Scheme and tax incentives for the purchase of musical instruments and paintings.
Present at the workshop, the Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mr. Avinash Teeluck, dwelt on the various measures put in place in Budget 2022/2023 to assist local artists. The Minister pointed out that that an exercise of dialogue between the Ministry and artists will take place every six months.
The Ministry, he further stated, recently had meetings with travel agencies to issue air ticket without payment for artists seeking an international travel grant to perform on international platforms while adding that discussions are still ongoing.
Other budgetary measures 2022/2023 debriefed by the Minister include: The Artist Incubator Scheme to give an enabling environment of budding artists with the support of mentors;
Provision has been made in the Budget to facilitate the participation of artists who have been nominated in international award ceremonies in recognition of their outstanding performance;
Construction of a National Arts Centre to provide a dedicated place for all categories of artists such as training, concert, exhibition and recording studio.
Priority will be given to budding artists for use of recording studio; Mauritius Arts Expo to be organised this year with other participating countries such as Reunion Island and Madagascar.
Discussions will be held for the inclusion of the musical sector in the art expo. The venue is the Côte d’Or Sports Complex; Artists to conduct their concert, with a minimal fee, no huge amount to be imposed; and National Resilience Fund: Rs 37 million allocated to boost the sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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