By Olimatou Coker
The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) convened a consultative meeting between the Artists Without Borders Gambia Chapter and Gambian artists to strengthen collaboration, build capacity, and accelerate development in the country’s creative and cultural industries.
Held at the NCAC Research and Documentation Department Annex in Fajara, the meeting drew more than 30 participants, including musicians, dancers, filmmakers, instrumentalists, writers, university lecturers and students. Representatives from the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), the Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP), the International Trade Centre (ITC) Gambia and other partner institutions also attended.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Senior Assistant Secretary Ebrima Baldeh commended young Gambian artists for their commitment and creativity and urged them to view the creative industry as a viable profession. He said music and the arts are vital tools for preserving and promoting The Gambia’s culture, identity and history and for projecting a positive national image internationally.
“Music carries a message that represents who we are as a people,” Baldeh said. “Through the arts, we can showcase our culture and tell the world what The Gambia stands for.” He reaffirmed MOTAC’s commitment to supporting artists and said the ministry and its technical arm, the NCAC, will continue to create opportunities for young creatives to develop their talents and contribute to national development.
Sanna B. Jarju, Director of Literature and Performing Arts at the NCAC, called the engagement a key step to strengthening partnerships across the creative sector. He noted that Artists Without Borders, founded by Lech Szporer, connects artists globally through programs that promote cultural exchange and social development, and he highlighted Gambian artists’ participation at last year’s ECOFEST Festival of Arts and Culture in Dakar.
Lech Szporer, founder and director of Artists Without Borders, outlined the organisation’s vision to build a global movement of artists who contribute directly to community development through creativity and culture. He said art educates, heals, unites communities and drives social change.
“The big idea of Artists Without Borders is a global arts and culture movement that delivers meaningful impact to communities,” Szporer said. He added that The Gambia is the first country to establish an Artists Without Borders chapter, a milestone that will provide a platform for networking, opportunity creation for young people, and the growth of a more structured, sustainable creative industry.
The session concluded with participants discussing sector challenges and identifying potential partnerships to promote artistic excellence and cultural development. Organisers described the meeting as the start of a long-term collaboration between Artists Without Borders, Gambian artists and key cultural institutions to strengthen The Gambia’s creative economy.
