NACZ Increases Registration Fees for Artists and Promoters
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has raised its registration fees for artists and promoters, with the aim of improving its services.
In a recent announcement, the Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry stated that the move will enable the NACZ to cater more effectively to its clients.
Under the new regulations, artists will be required to pay US$20 for initial registration, while promoters will need to pay US$650, up from $1,860 (local currency).
Trusts and venues will now pay US$500, compared to $560, and associations will be charged US$250, up from $260.
Meanwhile, the fee for local show clearance has been set at US$100 per month, while for engaging foreign artistes, NACZ will get 5% of gate takings or US$1,000.
An arts group will pay US$50 for initial registration and the same fee for annual renewal.
The council will also receive 5% of the invoice for clearance of broadcasting, sound and musical equipment.
Coventry announced the changes in terms of section 35 of the National Arts Council Act through Statutory Instrument 46 of 2023, which were published in the Government Gazette last week.
These regulations may be cited as National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (No 3).
In response to the new fees, NACZ spokesperson Rodney Ruwende explained that the old fee structure was inadequate to support the council’s operations.
“Ideally, the fees should cater for NACZ’s operations and development programmes, which has not been the case due to the low fees,” he said.
Ruwende added that government support is currently the primary source of NACZ’s budget.
Russell Mavudzi, secretary-general and spokesperson for the Music Management Forum of Zimbabwe, however, challenged Coventry to consider the affordability of the fees.
“It might have been better to increase in stages for stakeholders to adjust and to allow artists to build trust in the arts body,” said Mavudzi.
“Development is vital, but it might be over-ambitious to expect such type of development overnight.”
Mavudzi went on to encourage stakeholders to register despite the fee hike, saying it would help strengthen the arts industry in Zimbabwe.
He also expressed concerns over artistes who perform for free at some government events.
Zimbabwe Female Gospel Artistes Association president Mharidzo Hetisani welcomed the new fees, stating that they were previously too low.
“When we registered in 2019, we paid $25, and we renewed our certificate in December with just $600,” she said. “The prices were too low.”
Richard Tentone, spokesperson for the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe, echoed Mavudzi’s concerns about the fees’ affordability, calling the US$20 fee for individual artists excessive for a struggling film sector.
Tentone suggested that NACZ should provide more training programs and facilities for registered artists to justify the high fees.
