EU builds 2.6 bn/- arts centre in Arusha

 

HEAD of European Union (EU) Delegation, Ambassador Roeland Van De Geer has insisted that his mission was committed to transform the traditional arts and culture in Tanzania into a major industry capable of creating and sustaining livelihood among local citizens especially the youth.

“The European Union is proud to be one of the largest investors in arts and cultural heritage in Tanzania; the EU provided 10 Million Euros to fund creative and cultural economy to support 18 projects that can provide citizens with jobs and livelihood through dance, music, weaving, art and tourism,” he said. 

 

The Envoy was speaking here when he visited one of the projects that the EU funds in Arusha the Cultural Arts Centre, which is a Project of Tumaini University Makumira aimed to preserve and promote the unique cultural heritage of music and dance for communities residing in Northern Tanzania.

“We have started with melodies, dances and music instruments from the Meru, Maasai and Chagga communities but intend to expand later and include more Northern tribes before accommodating other societies in the country,” said Randall Stubbs, the CAC Director.

Ambassador Van De Geer also inspected ongoing construction projects at the proposed CAC premises; “These buildings radiate hopes and set to revive the cultures that made Tanzania the country it is today,” said the envoy.

Being constructed at the cost of 1.06 million Euros (2.6 billion/-) the art structures at Makumira entail creating a permanent centre for research, training, documentation, preservation and promotion of traditional music and dance as well as culture, and staging regular paid live performances of traditional music and dance, opportunities for the communities and school-age children to experience and learn about traditional music, dance and instruments.

The programs also aims at developing income-generating activities related to traditional melodies, beats and tools for local and international audiences. Three major structures are being built for the CAC center and these are set to open shop next February 2017.

In that aspect, the European Union becomes the main funding partner for the Cultural Arts Centre project at Makumira. EU bankrolls the initiative through a grant from the European Development Fund (EDF) channelled through the National Authorising Office of the Ministry of Finance.

EFD funds to the project were awarded through a competitive selection process that began in September 2012 and culminated in the contract signing in February 2014.

 The call for proposals was specifically related to the preservation and promotion of culture in Tanzania and 8 organisations were funded.