The National Roundtable Discussion, held on October 1, 2024, at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dar es Salaam, marked a significant step toward addressing public funding challenges in Tanzania's cultural and creative sectors. Organized by the Tanzania Artists Rights Organisation (TARO) in collaboration with Selam through the Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) initiative, the event gathered key government representatives, cultural leaders, and international stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing support for the sector.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of TARO, Advocate Joshua Msambila, mentioned that  "We are hosting a national discussion on how best to increase investment in the Arts and Culture sector. This platform brings together key stakeholders to share ideas and propose solutions for improving funding and investment in arts and culture in Tanzania."

Throughout the roundtable, several key challenges were identified, including the persistent lack of adequate funding and the limited institutional capacity of many arts organizations in Tanzania. Lilian Hipolyte Mushi, Executive Director of Nafasi Arts Space, highlighted the sector’s reliance on private donors and international stakeholders, which has been crucial for sustaining operations. She noted that many young organizations struggle to meet the governance and programmatic criteria required to access public funding. Gedio Erasto Chipungahelo, President of Miss Tourism Tanzania, echoed these concerns, lamenting the absence of sponsorship and public support. He called for greater recognition from both the tourism sector and the government, stressing the potential of initiatives like his to promote Tanzanian culture and heritage.

A recurring theme during the discussion was the gap between the government's perception of the arts and the sector's actual economic potential. Dr. Emmanuel Ishengoma, Director of Arts in the Department of Arts within the Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Culture (Tanzania Mainland), urged a shift in mindset to view the creative sector as a viable business that can generate income and support livelihoods, while also acknowledging its intrinsic cultural value. He further  emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue between the arts community and policymakers to ensure a supportive and enabling environment.

During the visit to Tanzania, the Embassy of Sweden in Dar es Salaam facilitated a parallel meeting with the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports, highlighting Sweden’s long standing support for Tanzania and the culture sector. The Tanzanian government reiterated its commitment to increasing public funding for the cultural sector, with the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hon. Damas Ndumbaro, endorsing the CfCA initiative and expressing optimism about achieving a 1% budget allocation target in the coming years. He emphasized the importance of recognizing culture's role in promoting both national identity and economic development.. This statement reflected the growing governmental interest in promoting the arts and culture, particularly through initiatives like the national culture festival, which drew approximately 50,000 attendees, the development of new film studios, and the support to theTanzania Culture and Arts Fund.

The day culminated in a lively reception celebrating Tanzanian culture through music, dance and food, underscoring the richness of the country's heritage. Hosted by the Embassy of Sweden in Dar es Salaam, this event provided a key opportunity to interact with additional cultural players and cement the bilateral cultural commitment between Sweden and Tanzania. In her words, Her Excellency Charlotta Ozaki Macias, the Swedish Ambassador, aptly stated, "Culture is the heartbeat of a nation. It is the heartbeat of individuals. It is the oil running the machinery, and it is how societies express their identities, nourish traditions, and inject visions and dreams for the future."

In closing, Mr. Teshome, the Executive Director of Selam, emphasized the importance of strong institutions, cross-border learning, youth advocacy, alignment with organizational goals, and a collaborative multi-stakeholder approach as key to effective advocacy and addressing challenges in the cultural sector. He highlighted the critical role of robust institutions, noting that other African countries  could benefit from Tanzania’s experiences in building up cultural institutions and infrastructure. He also stressed the importance of amplifying youth voices through advocacy and engagement, ensuring that young people have platforms to lead meaningful conversations. Mr. Teshome reaffirmed the alignment of the roundtable’s discussions with CfCA’s goal of achieving a 1% budget allocation for the cultural sector by 2030, a resolution originating from the  African Union’s Plan of Action for the Culture and Creative Industries. He concluded by expressing appreciation for the collaborative participation of the government, the Swedish Embassy, and cultural stakeholders, marking the event as a positive step toward future joint efforts.