ATCE I - Art, Tourism, & the Creative Economy Phase 1

The Art, Tourism and Creative Economy project ran from October 2023 to September 2024, supported by a £14,800 grant from the University of St Andrews. HOTA led the work alongside Dr Mattia Fumanti of the University of St Andrews, with AfriSource Namibia developing the training manual and Sky Light Media producing the project documentary.

The aim was straightforward: help young artists and woodcarvers in Rundu and the wider Kavango region turn their skills into products they can sell. The project opened with a five-day Design Thinking and Product Development workshop at Werah Hub Space, facilitated by AfriSource Namibia and officiated by the Governor of Kavango East. Participants then spent 90 days building their prototypes, supported by check-ins over Zoom and WhatsApp and by studio visits to document their progress.

The project closed with a pitch event and award ceremony. Five judges drawn from HOTA's stakeholder network assessed the prototypes and selected three winning products. The winners received a certificate and a year of free mentorship from AfriSource, which remains ongoing. New Era, The Namibian and the NBC all covered the event.

ATCE also left behind work that outlasts the grant. It produced a training manual for schools and vocational colleges, and a documentary made with Sky Light Media. HOTA showcased participant work at the /Ae //Gams Arts and Cultural Festival in Windhoek, and donated several prototypes to the Kavango Museum's permanent collection in Rundu.