The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) has confirmed the rehabilitation of the Alte Feste building, which will include a craft market, gallery, museum, training workshops, studios and restaurants.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that during October and November of 2022, it ran an online public survey requesting the general public for input on the repurposing of the Alte Feste building. Although 86 per cent of respondents agreed that the building be preserved as a historical building, 90 per cent of the 2 601 respondents proposed that the building be repurposed.

The MoEAC entered into a 10-year agreement with Namibia Arts, Crafts and Design (NACD) which will include the renovation and management of the Alte Feste building to create a space and platform for creative, cultural and craft businesses, especially those led by youth, rural women and vulnerable groups.

The NACD and the ministry will collaborate to raise funds to implement the project in phases. During phase one, they will stabilise and make the building usable to start craft activities.

The Alte Feste was declared a national monument in 1957 and turned into the National Museum of Namibia after independence.

However, the building became severely dilapidated because of the limited maintenance that was carried out.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency