Abstract: | The necessity for the formulation of cultural policies and a programme of the development of national culture has been high on the agenda in many African countries since independence. Although these efforts were not directed towards the organization of artistic production, they revealed a determination towards cultural decolonization. This paper analyses aspects of Tanzania's cultural policy relevant to the promotion of visual arts. Section 1 is devoted to a discussion on the need for cultural aims of development, their roles and scope in establishing national identity. The concept of cultural development is also examined. Section 2 deals with the problem of art patronage within the ideological set up of Tanzania. In this context, the impact of the marketing of art objects upon production is examined. Section 3 concludes the analysis, making recommendations on the urgent need for a rational cultural policy for the promotion of art in the nation. Ref. |