"They are not accountants," Haileleul laughs. "If you want to legally operate here as an artist, the fiscal issue is really very discouraging." The creation of a business is also far from easy, a problem that derives from the way in which artists are subject to taxes: for example, there is no differentiation between art and manufacturing sectors. Making this distinction is crucial for artists to flourish in Ethiopia.
“Everyone has to pay taxes. But artists are not entrepreneurs; They are not directing a business. So, if it makes it complicated, they will end in a gray area. "
For his Ethiopian artists, about half of the 15 in his books, Addis Fine Art is much more than a white room to hang his works. It has become an important bridge between commercial and creative worlds.
"We have also become tax collectors," jokes Haileleul. "We represent them so that everything is legal." Effective agents, the gallery handles the official side of things (transactions, receipts, taxes, reports to correct government agencies, etc.) so that artists do not have to do so. According to Haileleul, this allows artists to focus on their work.
Haileleul expects international interest in Ethiopian art to be late or later will lead to a significant change in the home. It seems that the government is beginning to come. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, recognizes the importance of the country's cultural sector, but concrete policy has not yet been approved.
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- Sample Category #2