Law on artistic and cultural associations to encourage sector’s professionalism, government reiterates

The Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt has told artists and stakeholders in the entertainment sector that the government is out to protect their interests.

Speaking at an event days back, the minister addressed a range of issues affecting the industry.

Talking about the controversial law on cultural and artistic associations, Minister Bidoung is quoted as haven said, “the law has endowed the art and culture sub-sector with a legal instrument which will allow it to be structured into federations with the aim of bringing together professionals by discipline, in associations, for the best quantitative and qualitative development of artistic production and cultural domain in Cameroon.”

Contrary to debates over the benefits the move provides to artists, the official, reports say, noted that the segmentation is meant to “fill the gap in the common search for solutions that artists should find to their most basic problems.”

“… We remain open for any proposal within the framework of the drafting of the application texts which will come to fulfill the unifying vision which wants the application of the law … the Government, through the Ministry of Arts and Culture, remains attentive to all proposals,” reports quote the official further.

Promulgated by President Biya in July 2020, the law on artistic and cultural associations was received with criticism.

Among other aspects, critics postulated that the said bill was going to benefit the government more than the artists for whom it was intended. Several sessions between stakeholders in the sector and government officials over the revision of certain aspects of the legislature have since yielded fruits.

Mimi Mefo Info