Namibia launches arts sector bail out grant

WINDHOEK,

   Namibia on Wednesday launched a 5 million Namibian dollar (300,000 U.S. dollars) grant to bailout the country's arts sector, which has been grounded by a state of emergency instituted to control COVID-19.

   Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Anna Nghipondoka said the grant will benefit both individual artists and art organizations and will go a long way to provide income for mostly youth employed in the industry.

   Art organizations will get up to 75,000 Namibian dollars each and individuals up to 2,000 Namibian dollars each to supplement lost income, the minister said.

   National Arts Council chairperson Patrick Sam said at the launch of grant that "the relief fund will be able to support arts and culture practitioners and institutions to continue implementing their mandates and to sustain their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to maintain their impact in the cultural and creative industries."  (Xinhua)