Botswana’s tightening fiscal situation has spilled over into the arts sector, forcing the National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) to suspend key programmes and delay grant allocations.

In a statement issued recently, the Council said the ongoing financial and liquidity challenges faced by the government have resulted in significant reductions to its subvention funds. The cutbacks, it said, have left the Council with no choice but to reprioritise within limited resources.

“As a result, the Council has resolved to suspend subsequent activities of the ongoing National Arts Festival until further notice,” the statement said. “This means that the Regional Festivals and the National Carnival will not proceed as initially planned.”

The Council further announced that the 2025/2026 Arts and Culture Grant cycle which is a vital source of funding for artists, cultural groups, and creative initiatives will be delayed, as the funds earmarked for the programme have not yet been released.

Despite the financial strain, the NACB assured the public that it will honour existing commitments. “Payments to prize winners, suppliers, and coordinators who contributed to the success of the National Arts Festival are being processed and will be concluded in due course,” it said.

The announcement is a major blow to Botswana’s creative community, which has increasingly looked to the NACB for institutional and financial support amid an already challenging economic climate.

In the meantime, the Council said it is working with the Ministry of Sport and Arts and other stakeholders to explore alternative funding options to sustain its programmes. “While we acknowledge the inconvenience this development will cause to the Arts and Creative Industry, we remain committed to accelerating our resource mobilisation efforts to mitigate the impact of the current fiscal environment,” the NACB added.