The campaign is aimed at encouraging youths to celebrate the unique tourism offerings, culture, food, experiences and the landscape through the performing and creative arts in the Province.
NA-BEAT Enterprises, founded by Ulric Roberts and Ronesca Cloete from Concordia in the Namaqua District, is partnering with the Northern Cape Tourism Authority (NCTA) to run a four-day social media campaign from April 27 to 30.
The campaign is aimed at encouraging youths to celebrate the unique tourism offerings, culture, food, experiences and the landscape in the Province through the performing and creative arts.
“The collaborating artists will prepare one tutorial video that will be shared on the social media channels of Na-Beat, the collaborating artists, and the NCTA. We invite everyone, from schools, tertiary institutions, community youth groups and the tourism industry to participate. People will be encouraged to apply the lessons learnt from the tutorials and to post their creative expressions on various online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,” said Roberts.
He said that the #freedomunderlockdown campaign will begin this week.
“We will create a network of participants who are mentored by artists to celebrate their artistic talents and expressions as a means to build their confidence, promote independent thinking and problem solving. Na-Beat is facilitating a virtual connection on Facebook between artist mentors who will post online tutorials for young people and others to unlock and express their talents through dance, drama, music, drumming and any other creative expression in their homes using the #freedomunderlockdown, #FreedomDay, #NorthernCape, #NaBeat hashtags.”
He explained that he had started up his organisation in partnership with Cloete to mentor young artists in their community.
“Na-Beat runs a dedicated programme that connects artists and youth to develop and channel their creative energies as an affirming recreational activity, a way of earning an income and sustaining livelihoods.”
Roberts stated that Na-Beat Enterprises had submitted a proposal to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s Healing Solutions for Tourism Challenge for funding.
“We hope that if we are granted funding we will be able to unearth the talent in this community,” said Roberts.
He added that due to the Covid-19 lockdown, limitations on movement and social interaction challenges, their projects had to be postponed.
“One event was planned to be held in Concordia and was funded by the National Arts Council. The other project would have been held in Stanford in the Western Cape.”