Introduction
This report, titled An Assessment of Artistic Freedom: Ethiopia, assesses the practices, challenges, and opportunities surrounding the freedom of artistic expression in the country. The study focused on traditional art forms such as theatre, music, and film, while also including authors, dancers, comedians, playwrights, and publishers. The report aims to guide the government and other stakeholders in effectively promoting and protecting these rights, benefiting both the creative community and society as a whole.
Summary
This study utilised a mixed research approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative approach involved rigorous analysis of quantifiable data, while the qualitative approach focused on subjective assessments of attitudes, opinions, and behaviour. The research design employed a descriptive mixed research design, utilising cross-sectional survey research to evaluate the practices, status, challenges, and opportunities of artistic freedom in Ethiopia. Additionally, interviews were conducted using a purposive technique of non-probability sampling to select participants.
The study brought to light various challenges that hinder artistic freedom, such as limited resources and expertise, a scarcity of galleries and educational programs, inadequate communication networks among artist organisations, and a lack of enforcement regarding copyright laws to safeguard artists’ exclusive rights. It also exposed a discrepancy in government backing, favouring the tourism and hotel sectors with benefits like land allocation, bank loans, and tax exemptions, while neglecting the art sector. Moreover, there was a tendency to prioritise art originating from Western countries over local creative expressions.
However, despite these obstacles, the study uncovered promising opportunities within the artistic landscape. It highlighted the unwavering commitment of artists, the current government’s support for the art sector, and the extensive reach of social media platforms for the widespread dissemination of artwork as positive factors worth acknowledging.
By recognizing and addressing the challenges while capitalising on the identified opportunities, there is a potential to enhance artistic freedom and cultivate a thriving artistic community in Ethiopia. This requires concerted efforts from various stakeholders, including artists, government bodies, and society as a whole, to foster an environment that appreciates and nurtures local creativity, provides adequate resources and support, and promotes the value of artistic expression.
The report was formulated between August and November 2022 through desk research, statistical data and qualitative interviews with creatives and chairpersons representing various art forms as well as policy makers who provided personal stories and insights. A research validation meeting took place in January 2023 to present the report to key stakeholders for verification and comments, which were then incorporated into the final report.
The PANAF project is being implemented with the support of the Swedish Arts Council. This research was commissioned by Selam through its Pan African Network for Artistic Freedom (PANAF) project and implemented by its partner, the Ethiopian Film Association, Arkwood.
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