Young artists from different schools empowered to become entrepreneurs |08 November 2022

Fifteen young artists from different schools on Mahé yesterday attended a workshop organised by the Seychelles National Youth Council and the Creative Seychelles Agency to learn more on how they can use their art to make a living.

The main facilitator of the youth empowerment programme was Zaahirah Muthy, founder of ZeeArts.

“With this workshop, the young will understand where they are right now with their career or intent. They will also learn about what success would look and feel like, develop effective communication skill, write about their work to art professionals and the public, using social media to get things done, asking other people for help and being able to focus and follow an action plan,” shared Ms Muthy.

Other people who intervened virtually during the day were: Ryan Mario, an art writer from Singapore; Zia Gopee, an art historian from Mauritius; Amy Diener from USA; Majo Portilla from Netherlands; Benito Elisa from Mauritius and Meng Chan Shu from Malaysia.

Emmanuel d’Offay, executive director of Creative Seychelles Agency (CSA), explained that this workshop is part of the memorandum of understanding the CSA signed with SNYC.

“CSA brought in Zaahirah Muthy, founder of ZeeArts to conduct the workshop for artists’ empowerment. Today the workshop is to empower young artists who do not have the marketing skills to market their work. We have an ageing artist’s population and we need to get the youth ready to carry on with the work,” said Mr d’Offay.

He is encouraging young artists to pursue their career and has decided to also involve graduates from the Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (SIAD).

“CSA is preparing the youths to enter the world of art and with the new gallery that will be opening at the Domaine de Val des Près, we will allocate two walls for the SIAD students so that their work can be displayed and sold. We have to show the youths that they can make a living with their art and they should take it seriously. Our artists have an international level and as an agency we are all for the promotion of young artists,” noted Mr d’Offay.

Penny Belmont, chief executive of SNYC, encouraged the youths attending the one-day workshop to take the opportunity to ask as many questions as they want, learn and become facilitators for others.

Unfortunately not many youths could attend the programme due to ongoing exams.

Vidya Gappy

Photos by Joena Meme