CHISHIMBA BWALYA
Lusaka
PLANS for the development of the firstever national arts centre in Zambia are under way with Government expected to unveil land where the facility will be built.
Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts Permanent Secretary Fumba Chama said on Friday that the minister [Elvis Nkandu] would the land on November 29.
The land whose details have not been revealed is said to be in the prime spaces of Lusaka.
But speaking during an interview, Chama said that the facility would be a home for hosting various disciplines within the arts sector “The idea of the national arts centre is to create more of a centre of excellence for the Zambian arts.
We look to host all the arts discipline within the country and possibly capture all the emerging and established abilities within the country.” he said.
He added: “We hope to host a cinema where Zambian film producers do not have to struggle and spend thousands of Kwacha for them to premiere in theatre.
“Bigger than the Lusaka playhouse”
The arts centre is expected to be bigger than the Lusaka Playhouse, according to Mr Chama, with an emphasis on the fact that it is being established to increase the number of facilities for the sector.
“Of course, we envision to have space where the Lusaka playhouse will be but it will not be the only one. So we will have a theatre there, cinema and exhibition, and an audio-visual studio. We think that we can get partnerships that will help us realise this dream. We hope that we will be able to deliver this particular facility a soon as possible.”
Opened in 1958, Lusaka Playhouse has been a subject of national discussion with many calling for more funding to sustain the building.
In 2022, the facility was brought into the limelight when plans to construct a filling station there were revealed.
The idea was ultimately revoked after artists opposed the idea.
