ANTSHOW Madagascar Activity Report 2003

Dear Friends of Antshow Madagascar,

It is now March 2004 and we would like to share with you our further adventures at the Arts & Cultural Centre, Antshow, in Madagascar. A lot of cultural activities have happened in Antshow during its first year of existence. Here are some of the highlights and the good times we had during 2003.

January/February

We opened the new year with new batch of staff. We have had difficult experiences trying to get the best people for the job at Antshow because not a lot of people yet know about how to handle Arts & Culture in Madagascar.

The year started with a big meeting to discuss how to set up a proper structure for Arts & Culture in Madagascar, so that artists would be able to survive with their talents in their own country. A lot of people were invited and present at the workshop-discussion between artists (local and foreign), organisers, promoters, cultural journalists, OMDA, ex-ministers and even a representative of the World Bank. We had a whole day of debate, taking notes of all the problems that local artists have in Madagascar. There was a confrontation with the OMDA (the local copyright collection society) who are supposed to help musicans to fight against piracy. The representative of the French government also gave her explanation of their role in trying to help local contemporary Arts, their projects and possible funding in the future.

Everybody except for panelists sat on the floor (since we did not have chairs yet). We also provided Malagasy food and drinks all day. Three young women volunteered to take notes of the meeting and prepared a draft to be debated at the National Assembly so that our discussions and notes could be incorporated in laws and regulations. Painters, actors, film makers and writers also had their say. We were about 60 people and Antshow provided all the facilities and everything we needed for the day. It was the best way to say "Happy New Year" and get to know each other.

March 2003 >>