The artist’s statute as an instrument of national identity
The proposal for the Artist's Statute (Estatuto do Artista), was the central theme of a seminar held last week in Maputo City, led by the Secretary of State for Arts and Culture, Matilde Muocha. The meeting brought together artists, cultural associations, and potential beneficiaries of the future law to refine the rights and duties pertaining to the profession. In her speech, Matilde Muocha emphasized that the Statute goes beyond labor dimensions and social protection. "Beyond being an act of policy and national identity, the proposal responds to real problems with concrete measures. The objective is to recognize and protect authors and treat artistic work as a public good," she stated. Addressing the audience, Muocha reaffirmed the Government's commitment to positioning culture and the creative economy as strategic vectors for national development. "The Government believes that culture is infrastructure, social cohesion, and a growing economy. In countries that have already taken this path, the cultural and creative sector represents between 3% and 5% of the national GDP. Mozambique has the human potential and cultural diversity to aim for that horizon. But it will not get there without law, without registration, and without protection," she explained. It is expected that, with the approval of this instrument, the professional registration of the class will be legalized, ensuring greater dignity, security, and recognition.
