NEW BASA MARKETING MANAGER

Business and Arts South Africa has appointed Germaine Gamiet to the position of Marketing Manager from May 1. A Fulbright Scholar, he joins BASA from the East London Guild Theatre where he is Community Engagement Coordinator.

The 27-year-old Gamiet, who hails from the Eastern Cape, holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) degree and a Masters in Arts and Administration (Performing Arts), focusing his research on “Building and Developing Healthy Communities through Arts and Culture in South Africa”. It’s this intimate understanding of how business and local governments can stimulate social and economic development through arts and culture that Gamiet believes will play a meaningful role in his new position.

“Business and Arts South Africa is one of those organisations that really is a solid example of what South Africa’s democracy has done right for arts and culture,” says Gamiet. “Their sustainability and accountability has always impressed me.”

Gamiet’s strong belief in partnerships between business and arts projects echoes Business and Arts South Africa’s mission statement “from seed, to strength, to sustainability”: “One of the most striking aspects that came from my Masters research in the US and here in South Africa was the difficulty arts projects have in articulating the value they bring to a business that may be supporting them,” he adds. “It’s challenges like these that Business and Arts South Africa is already engaged in and I am confident I can contribute positively to this.”

Business and Arts South Africa CEO, Michelle Constant adds: “Gamiet brings strong insight and understanding of the relationship between arts sponsors and projects, and will make a definite impact in the organization.”

Gamiet will oversee Business and Arts South Africa’s marketing portfolio, including playing a key role in the upcoming 13th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American, at the end of August.