ANTSHOW: cultural arts centre in Madagascar

The cultural arts centre Antshow
which has just been opened in
Madagascar's capital Antanarivo
was established to promote
Malagasy arts and artists,
providing cultural enrichment and
economic benefits to the country.
The founder of Antshow is
Hanitra Rasoanaivo, leader of
the internationally known
Malagasy band Tarika.
In Madagascar, the arts permeate
everyday life to create a lively
and intense environment. The
aim of Antshow is to channel this
energy to work towards the
development of local arts and of
the Malagasy nation as a whole.
The purpose-built complex is
itself a symbol of how traditional
ways of life in Madagascar can
be turned into beautiful
contemporary art that everyone
can enjoy, participate in and be
proud of.
Antshow was established to
promote talented artists from all
around Madagascar, the Indian
Ocean, and eventually from
around the world. Artists will
meet, show their work, exchange
ideas and share experiences. A
special emphasis will be on
placed on encouraging
exchanges of national and
international artists with
Malagasy youth. The centre will
welcome foreign artists who can
help local ones to value their
work and keep it alive and
thriving.
Some of the many activities of
Antshow will include live musical
events, exhibitions, workshops,
educational projects, discussion
groups, and organisation of
specialised tourism guided by
experts in music, dance, textiles,
crafts etc. All of this supports the
aim to train, develop, promote
and give pride in artistic skills
(including marketing and
management) and to generate
much needed income and status
for Malagasy artists.
Antshow needs to become
self-sustaining as well as to
recoup the start-up costs. As a
result, the centre is developing
special services to ensure the
economic long-term viability of
the project. The Antshow
complex includes a function room
with bar facility, a Malagasy
restaurant serving local food, a
craft shop, a space for press
conferences and discussion
groups, a traditional massage
place and hairdressing salon and
eventually will house a
rehearsal/recording studio.
Antshow also offers bed &
breakfast accomodation for
visiting tourists who would like to
be in touch with genuine
Malagasy art, history, food,
games, and life in general. Each
room is carefully and personally
created in Malagasy style to a
comfortable standard.
In addition, the centre will house
the successful Valiha High
Association, founded by Hanitra
Rasoanaivo in 1997 to teach
disadvantaged children to learn
traditional instruments free of
charge. It will also be the home of
the band Tarika which for the first
time in its 10 year career will
have a permanent place to build
and store instruments, create,
rehearse and eventually record.
Antshow will be pleased to hear
from anybody abroad who may
be willing to give help in
establishing the centre and
achieving its aims. Financial
sponsorship, offers of equipment
or participation in training of
valuable skills will all be much
appreciated in these early
stages.

• article submitted by: Hanitra Rasoanaivo, Tarika Bé / Antshow Madagascar