Influence of monitoring and evaluation practices on the performance of government-sponsored arts projects in Namibia: a case of national arts Council of Namibia

Abstract

The study identifies the Monitoring and Evaluation practices and performance of government funded arts projects within Namibia using the National Arts Council of Namibia as the case study. The core objectives of the research were to investigate the influence of M&E planning, control and communication practices on the performance of the artist’s projects that are funded by the government through the NACN. The study employed a mixed method approach of research; largely qualitative in nature with quantitative support data collection and interpretation using the Program theory, Development Evaluation theory and the Theory of constraints as the guiding theories. The target population was the artists of Namibia who have been beneficiaries of the Acts fund Act of 2005. A sample size of 113 out of a total 350 beneficiaries, all NACN officials and members of the line Ministry for the Arts that is the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture were approached to inform the research by determining how they perceived the influence of M&E practices on the overall performance on the sponsored arts projects. Structured questionnaires were emailed to randomly selected beneficiaries and responses were either emailed back to those who could not meet the researcher in person whilst others met the researcher individually to respond to the questions set. Data analysis was using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Deduction of meaning was employed with regards to qualitative analysis. Through this research, the researcher was able to establish the importance and influence of M&E practices on the performance of Government sponsored arts projects, coming to the conclusion that the presence of M&E practices can make the difference in just facilitating one off arts projects but help artists establish lifelong and success careers based on their performance objectives. This was confirmed by the P-value which was < 0.05. This research will help governments as well as artists who may want to be beneficiaries of the funding to appreciate the role of Monitoring and Evaluation in assisting the performance of the arts. Further research will be needed in the use of frameworks as guiding documents in activities of government sponsored arts.