The President of the Oruuano Namibian Artists Union(ONAU), Banana Shekupe, says a lot needs to be done to encourage the growth of the creative arts industry.

Shekupe is under the impression that Namibian artists are slowly being forgotten as the years' progress.

Shekupe says the average local artist is finding it hard to survive simply because there are no safety nets. He says there seems to be no difference between those in the creative arts and people working in the informal sector.

The president of the Oruuano Namibian Artists Union also suggests that people with influence tap into the knowledge of those creatives who are still alive. 

"Even in schools, our kids are not taught arts in school nicely and some of us gave birth to artists. Where are they going to study? These are important to keep our culture for the future."

Shekupe says all 14 regions of the country are blessed with creative people, from sculptors and carpenters to weavers and painters.

The focus now, he says, is mostly on academics, which wasn't always the case.

"There was no academic consideration of whether you were educated when we liberated this country. It was that if you can do the job and there is an artist who can do the job, they must be considered and brought on board. Of the development to be done in this country, artists must be part." 

Even though he appreciates efforts by the Namibia Film Commission and the National Arts Council of Namibia, he believes long-term funding for projects is the way to go.

Shekupe says if Namibia does not seriously start supporting those in the creative arts, the country runs the risk of losing some of its best artists to other nations. 

During the 2021–2022 financial year, the government allocated over N$13 billion to the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture. 

During the 2022–2023 financial year, that figure increased to more than N$14 billion.