There is no doubt that Rwanda is gifted with talented artists. However, it's also widely known that they don’t earn enough from their work despite applying their expertise and uniqueness to the profession. Many have given up on their talents due to expensive materials that they require to keep their art moving, some of which are imported from other countries, yet earning from their final products especially locally, is still hard. Moving forward, what needs to be done to put a smile on artists' faces and encourage more talents to opt for art? According to Dieu Donne Habiyaremye, a digital and acrylic painter, it’s tricky selling an art piece as an individual, however, pushing for clients requires having one’s art pieces displayed in galleries. “There is still a mentality that art is expensive which isn’t true. It takes time, creativity and money to sketch and complete just one piece. It’s just that the local support is still missing as people don't know the value of art yet. Some local artists have been lucky to sell their work to foreigners as they understand what art is,” he says. Habiyaremye believes that artists ought to have galleries collaboration for their craft, and utilise online markets such as Komeza so that their art reaches a large audience. He also notes that artists need recognition through consistency of creating ingenious artistry, but this requires the support of media and proper use of social media. Innocent Ishimwe, a painter, stresses that people offer support to talented artists who have been in the field for long as they believe they produce better work. In the end, the emerging artists are left wondering whether they chose the right profession after going days or months without selling any of their art pieces. For him, good art isn’t about who started when because upcoming artists can be talented and produce good quality work. He points out that if rising artists are not given the benefit of the doubt, chances are, they will throw in the towel as they lack the funding to run their business. Ishimwe doesn’t differ from Habiyaremye on the power of the media to uplift the youngsters by profiling their work, as that way, they can gain customers. Perhaps, they could be having amazing stories behind their passion for art. He carries on that a number of artists have gifted hands but lack public recognition and the push. Ishimwe calls upon the Ministry of Culture to start acknowledging the growth and development of the creative industry. He stresses that creativity should be encouraged, as artists shouldn’t get stuck in the mindset that whoever isn’t painting ‘Imigongo’ or the traditional culture isn’t making art at all because it slows down the development in art and hinders inventiveness. “The government and stakeholders should look for means to engage in the creative industry because it can generate revenue both for the country and the artists as well,” he emphasises. He says that Rwanda should pick a leave from other developed countries that organise art fairs to allow artists showcase their work and sell it. “This is lacking in Rwanda, as all we have are art galleries with no art expos. There are many places to host these expos; it's just that there isn’t much emphasis put in art, yet.” He explains that artists are ready and willing to cooperate with investors to fulfill their potential and boost the art market to the next level. For Jemima Kakizi, a visual artist, art creators ought to find ways of selling their work. She urges artists to work hard and also include locals and the community because they are an inspiration. However, she stresses that Rwandans should make efforts to love Made in Rwanda and support it. Kakizi highlights that the public should give feedback about the local art creations rather than just giving negative comments yet support foreign artworks. ‘There should be a change of mindset where some locals think that imported products are way better than our locals.’ She notes that local artists have the capacity to produce good quality products, together with their support, the art industry can achieve great results. Antoine Izere says that some artists don’t know how to price their work, as some have charged their work cheaply just to attract sellers, a thing that has left them demotivated. He notes that there should be personal websites and different social media accounts that in some ways, can benefit local artists to reach a bigger audience if they get to know the proper means of advertising. Izere states that there are many spaces that can be used as expo spaces, some of which are for the government and others are private property including Rwanda arts museum, archives, L’espace, Atelier, and others. “If there could be ways of making them accessible, that will help many of us who are still struggling,” he states. For Gislain Mugisha, a self-taught pen artist, earning from art, the artist has to be able to know his or her worth. He explains that knowing their worth will help them to not overprice or underprice their work. Mugisha urges artists to display their work in art galleries and other venues selling prints, and other customised products, as that way, they can easily be seen or accessed by buyers. He adds that artists should construct their skills, collaborate with fellow artists, market themselves and mostly, participate in local art events. Jean Damascene Niyitegeka, a painter and ball pen artist states that artists must craft uniqueness and know how to manage an art business and communicate with clients. “We need society to understand us as that’s how they will like what we do. I request the Ministry of Culture to support and invest in more art by introducing more art competitions to give a chance to young talented artists, to help them develop skills. Support can also be through offering scholarships to them to improve their skills in art schools in and outside Rwanda. According to Elysee Kwizera, a digital and oil painter, artists should earn through their exhibitions and collaborating with other exhibitions which take place in Rwanda, this means that they should be active and look for more opportunities to sell. Artists need to be guided on the known art websites where they can sell their work, and visibility is key.
