College of the Arts

Also known as: Cota · College of the Arts (Cota)

College of the Arts — institution offering music, art and film education where students exhibit work and perform recitals in Windhoek, Namibia.

2019-02-152026-08-21

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

May 2025
17 MayThe Namibian
College of the Arts participates in 'Art Splash' student exhibition at NAGN and NAA
Source
“Back at the NAGN and also at the Namibian Arts Association (NAA), 'Art Splash', an annual College of the Arts student exhibition is currently on display.”
Now Showing: Promising Student and Vivid Veteran Art
May 2024
1 MayThe Namibian
College of The Arts (Cota) announced plans to jointly run a ten-month pilot programme on jazz and digitisation
Source
“The College of The Arts (Cota), in collaboration with the Unesco national office, have announced their plans to jointly run a ten-month pilot programme on jazz and digitisation.”
Jazz initiative for youth empowerment launched
September 2022
11 SeptThe Namibian
College of the Arts won best fashion design educational institution of the year award
Source
“The awards, which had 88 nominees, saw only 22 winners, including Chelsi Shikongo who won the best social media influencer of the year award and the College of the Arts which won the best fashion design educational institution of the year award.”
Katutura Fashion Week Awards need more support
July 2022
15 JulThe Namibian
Cynthia Schimming was the fashion design lecturer at the College of the Arts
Source
“They also worked together at the College of the Arts, where Schimming was the fashion design lecturer and he taught film-making, he says.”
Cynthia Schimming's Influence Will Extend Beyond Fashion
November 2021
26 NovThe Namibian
College of the Arts was attended by John Kalunda for art studies
Source
“He studied art at the College of the Arts and the University of Namibia.”
Mural Honours Local Athletes
March 2021
12 MarThe Namibian
College of the Arts (Cota) held a fashion show last weekend at its main campus in Windhoek with 24 students showcasing designs
Source
“The College of the Arts (Cota) held a fashion show last weekend at its main campus in Windhoek, where 24 students showcased their designs.”
Cota Fashion Show Is Back
September 2020
11 SeptThe Namibian
College of the Arts had 12 final-year students awarded bursaries by the NFC
Source
“recently awarded bursaries to 12-final year College of the Arts students mostly specialising in TV production.”
NFC Calls for Film Funding Applications
November 2019
22 NovThe Namibian
College of the Arts held annual fashion show at Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre
Source
“The College of the Arts (Cota) fashion design students showcased what they learnt throughout the year at their annual fashion show, held at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek last Saturday.”
Creativity Reigns at Cota Annual Fashion Show
22 NovThe Namibian
College of the Arts (Cota) holds annual exhibition at Katutura Community Art Centre
Source
“The annual 'ArtSplash' exhibition of the College of the Arts (Cota) campus at Katutura Community Art Centre (KCAC) is back on.”
Students Shine in ‘ArtSplash'
August 2019
23 AugThe Namibian
College of the Arts employs Sharon Tjimbundu as a media student
Source
“As a media student at the College of the Arts, what she enjoys most about the industry is always learning new things and meeting interesting people.”
Slaying All The Way

Culture

National Arts Fund awards N$1.25 million to 28 creatives

The News

Twenty-eight Namibian artists and creative practitioners received more than N$1.25 million through the National Arts Fund to support projects in music, visual arts, theatre and film. The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture announced the grants, which the government described as investments in creativity, cultural heritage and economic opportunities for Namibian artists.

6 August 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 6 August

National Arts Fund awards N$1.25 million to 28 creatives
Twenty-eight Namibian artists and creative practitioners received more than N$1.25 million through the National Arts Fund to support projects in music, visual arts, theatre and film. The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture announced the grants, which the government described as investments in creativity, cultural heritage and economic opportunities for Namibian artists.
6 August 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 2 August

Namibia's first all-girls band debuts at college auditorium
Nocturnal Souls, an all-girls band of music students from the College of the Arts and Robin's Private Music Centre, will debut on 7 August. The group plays drums, bass guitar, keyboards and vocals, blending jazz, Latino music, and soulful covers of artists including The O'Jays, Rihanna, and Judith Sephuma.
2 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 1 August

Namibia's first all-girls band debuts August 7
Nocturnal Souls, a five-member all-girls band of music students, will make their debut at the College of the Arts auditorium on 7 August, blending jazz and Latino music with soulful covers and marking a groundbreaking moment for women on Namibia's music scene.
1 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 28 July

Galilei Njembo presents opera recital before McGill studies
Rising opera singer and playwright Galilei Njembo presents 'A Night at The Opera' this Friday, featuring works by Mozart, Puccini, Bizet and Gounod, with Russian soprano Liza Dreyden and pianist Ebbie Becker. The recital serves as a fundraiser for Njembo's upcoming master's degree in voice and opera at McGill University in Canada, beginning in September.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 July

Unemployed journalist collects cans while searching for work
A 42-year-old mother of four with media studies and nursing qualifications has struggled with unemployment for years and now survives by collecting discarded aluminium cans while continuing to seek permanent employment.
14 July 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 11 July

Namibian artist Nambinga returns with solo exhibition after eighteen years
Frans Nambinga, who last held a solo show in 2008, is currently displaying abstract acrylic paintings inspired by African wisdom, culture and peoples at the Namibian Arts Association. The artist credits his long absence from solo exhibitions to fully booked galleries and time spent working as a DJ and running an arts training school in Katutura.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 13 June

Namibian musician Jackson Wahengo charts path from exile to Europe
Jackson Wahengo, a guitarist born in Swapo exile camps in Angola and Zambia, developed his Afropop-folk style by blending African traditions with jazz, zouk and reggae influences. Now based in Copenhagen, he has performed on European stages after learning guitar at age 14 and initially performing traditional songs and covers before joining Mighty Dreads in Windhoek.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 2 May

Ena Venter's choral legacy honoured posthumously in Namibia
Ena Venter, founder of the Mascato Youth Choir, received a posthumous award recognizing her lifelong contribution to choral music in Namibia. Venter taught at multiple institutions including Suiderhof Primary School, the College of the Arts, and Windhoek High School, and led choirs that achieved international recognition through tours to countries including Israel, Germany, and Canada.
2 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Saturday 25 April

Windhoek College of the Arts students examine cultural identity and heritage
The annual 'Art Splash' exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Namibia showcases work by Windhoek College of the Arts students exploring themes of cultural preservation, identity and the effects of modernity on tradition through textiles, ceramics, sculpture, photography and mixed media until 23 May. Featured artists examine how ancestral knowledge, indigenous symbolism and cultural practice intersect with urbanisation, religious faith and contemporary life.
25 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 16 March

Fashion designer Kandjimbi transforms affordable fabrics into luxury pieces
Julia Kandjimbi, founder of Ish Namibia, has built a fashion design business that makes stylish clothing accessible and affordable while juggling full-time work and studies. She participates in African fashion events, mentors young designers, and serves on the Leather Working Group for SADC to help grow the fashion industry across the continent.
16 March 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 1 March

Namibian filmmaker Errol Geingob on visual storytelling
Errol Geingob, a Namibian filmmaker, writer, and co-founder of Desert Film Productions with over two decades in the industry, believes visual storytelling gives voice to the unheard and documents local realities. He has worked on productions including Tate Penda and taught at the College of the Arts alongside his film work.
1 March 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Monday 16 February

Big Daddy invites local designers into retail supply chain
Clothing retailer Big Daddy has called for local designers and entrepreneurs to apply for partnership opportunities in adult apparel, footwear, and accessories. Local designers welcomed the move as a transformative opportunity for small businesses and a chance to demonstrate the quality and competitiveness of Namibian-made goods in mainstream retail, though some noted challenges around production capacity and standardisation.
16 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 10 January

Thimbukushu women preserve traditional Ngoma drum culture
Thimbukushu women along the Kavango River maintain the tradition of playing the Ngoma, a traditional drum that comes in different forms for rituals, dances and celebrations, learning the skill through observation and practice. While some experts worry younger generations may not understand its significance as interest shifts toward piano and other instruments, the women assert that drumming remains deeply rooted in their culture and continues to echo through the Kavango East region.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 9 January

Thimbukushu women preserve ngoma drumming tradition
Traditional drum playing—the ngoma—remains vital to Thimbukushu culture along the Kavango River, with women like Angelika Nduva keeping the self-taught skill alive through practice and community participation. While educators note declining interest among younger generations, cultural practitioners and researchers emphasize that documentation and continued performance are essential to preserving the tradition's rhythms and meanings.
9 January 2026 · The Namibian →