By RFPosted on 03-08-2019Modified on 03-08-2019 at 00:03

Launched with great fanfare by the Malagasy Ministry of Culture this Friday, August 2, Tosik'art is a national competition for cultural projects. The ambition is twofold: to promote cultural industry and entrepreneurship and to allow award-winning artists to live off their art. An initiative applauded by the artistic world, but which raises some questions about the sustainability of the project.

Musicians, singers, slamers, dancers, stylists or graffiti artists, they were numerous this Friday to take part in the big launch show of Tosik'art , in French, " Push the art ".

As president of the Federation of Visual Arts of Madagascar, Temandrota , internationally recognized visual artist, was consulted for this project, which he describes as a " springboard for artists ".

" To be an artist here in Madagascar," reminds Temandrota, " is still an obstacle course. Tosik'art is a contest: the artists will present a project. If this one is nominated, they will be able to obtain a financial support, a training component to realize it and to take shape on the long term. And that is an advance. So of course, we do not know if it will take 2 years or 3 years this kind of initiative, but it has the merit of existing. "

Culture as a vector of economic development, Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy, the Malagasy Minister of Culture, is convinced: " Our idea is that the ministry be present, to provide them with financial and legal assistance, and so professionalize and be in the formal. "

What will be the means to support the project? " We did not have a budget for this project," says the minister. We turned to private partners. They are the ones who will finance the best projects. "

The submission of applications will start this August 5th for the 22 regions. The winners, known in October, will then be accompanied for 1 year.

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