Kisumu’s culture ministry has organised a two-day arts exhibition in the town to promote and harness talent in the county.
The ministry of education, culture and the arts in the county organised the event for non-education institutions and clubs to take place on Friday and today.
The exhibition drew artists of various genres into the lakeside town’s Social Hall to showcase and market talents in visual and performing arts.
The culture director, Kenneth Otieno, said the county had a lot of unharnessed potential.
He said: “The exhibition is a prerequisite of the annual music festival and qualifiers will represent the county at the national level.”
Exhibitions in visual arts, music and performing arts will run concurrently at the Kisumu Social Hall.
The event, expected to be attended by all county executives, will also offer a platform for the visual artists to attract market for their artwork which range from fine art, to creative artwork in jewellery, pottery, sculpture.
Art displays are aimed at improving art and creativity, providing information on art, empowering artist and cultural practitioners and promoting peace and cohesion, according to the Cultural ministry of the national government.
“The government will spend close to half a million shillings to make the event a success,” Otieno said.
The county plans to spend a further Sh20 million for the construction and equipping an auditorium and visual arts gallery and workshop.
The county has a budget of Sh17 million in the construction of music auditorium and arts gallery and workshop at Kanyakwar. A further over Sh4 million will be spent in the furnishing and equipping the two facilities within the current financial year ending June, according to the government. Construction is underway.
A private investor has also expressed interest in starting music classes at the new auditorium to preserve and foster local talent.