Creative gathering set for Swakopmund

Namibia’s creatives are headed to Swakopmund as the coastal town gears up for ‘The Gathering’.

Presenting a programme of talks, networking sessions and creative interludes with some of the country’s leading creatives, the indaba-style event will take place at Swakopmund Primary School on 19 April.

Described as “at the intersection of art, culture and business” and a celebration of the country’s makers and doers, ‘The Gathering’ will be hosted by event co-founders artist Niita Shikongo and curator Laschandré Coetzee.

Featured speakers include popular creator Xuro Milton, DJ Alba Nvlo, photographer Margaret Courtney-Clarke, artist Tuli Mekondjo, playwright Victoria Sanyime, and visual artist Anne Lacheiener-Kuhn.

The event will also feature founders Nanyemba Katamba (from Home of the Arts), Kauna Ndilula (Business Financial Solutions) in conversation with Capricorn Investment Holdings’ Gida Sekandi, Dan Craven (Onguza Bicycles), Leon Engelbrecht (Leon Engelbrecht Design), Marcii Magson (Wonderveld Apothecary), Lindie Lourens (The Mill), and neurodiversity advocate Britney Burger, among others.

“The speakers are passionate leaders willing to speak of their vulnerabilities, challenges and failures as they’ve grown in their careers,” says ‘The Gathering’ co-founder and Onguza Bicycles creative director Collyn Ahart.

“A major issue in Namibia is a lack of transparency when it comes to starting businesses, growing as a creative, and challenging the status quo. All of these speakers embody that, across disciplines,” Ahart says.

Centred around themes of creativity and breakthrough, particularly in the face of failure, ‘The Gathering’ hopes to demystify the taboo of failure within the creative process.

“Namibia is filled with brilliant creative people, but they are rarely in the same place at the same time, able to connect and share. At events like this, necessary cross-pollination happens for creative innovation,” says Ahart.

“Artists meet and inspire business leaders. Writers share their stories with designers. Entrepreneurs find a spark of an idea from a playwright.”

Spiritually, Ahart compares ‘The Gathering’ to TED or the long-running Design Indaba.

Citing insufficient exposure, a lack of education and access to mentorship as barriers to thriving in creative careers, Ahart hopes to help illuminate the path through knowledge exchange.

“Globally, any creative career tends to be limited to those privileged enough to be based in a large city and work for almost nothing.

“Our aim is to level this playing field a bit and make sure people who want to follow a creative path have access to the inspiration and mentorship that will guide them.”

While creativity is often perceived as relatively nebulous and unstructured, Ahart suggests it is far more involved.

“Creativity isn’t just one thing. It includes arts and culture, advertising, theatre, design, branding and architecture. It is also fundamental to journalism, tech, engineering, problem solving, communication and to being an actively engaged citizen.

“Creativity is about being able to put ideas and things together that have never been put together before,” Ahart says.

Considering who should attend the event, Ahart invites people who already consider themselves creative, but also those with a creative itch they want to scratch.

“I would especially encourage young entrepreneurs, artists and makers to take advantage of our sponsored seats, whereby they can sign up for a free ticket.”

“For those who can afford it, every ticket sold enables this to become more than a one-off event, and there are special goodie bags for them too.”

‘The Gathering’ is sponsored by FNB Namibia, Onguza Bicycles, Two Beards Coffee, The Project Room and Wonderveld Apothecary. Tickets include refreshments and entertainment.

The event coincides with Easter weekend and Swakopmund’s ‘Night of the Galleries,’ so Ahart assures visitors there will be plenty to do.

“Our hope is for all attendees to leave inspired, possibly with new business or creative ideas.

“They’ll have a chance to network with some of the most interesting and pioneering creative minds in Namibia and leave with a sense of community, possibility and optimism for Namibia’s creative future.”

‘The Gathering’ tickets and sponsored seats are available in advance on www.togethernamibiacom

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com