The role of BRICS in fostering strategic co-operation
We have come together because of a common conviction in the central role of arts, culture and heritage in nation formation and economic development.
We as South Africa are proud to be members of the BRICS structure since 2010. We have come to consolidate South-South cooperation that will forge stronger strategic links among our developing economies.
We believe that by working together we are destined to emerge as a powerful group of nations that will reshape the world in the 21st Century.
We acknowledge the arts, culture and heritage as the glue that will tighten the ties that bind us. As emerging nations, we must stand together to recognise and use this sector to promote peace and friendship among all our people.
Above all, this sector gives us an important opportunity to collaborate creatively. It will and must boost trade relations to improve our economies.
This is the new language of Brics: to stand together to strengthen economic ties to build better people to people relations. As Africans, we are determined to give the world a human face.
But this must extend to a common vocabulary of global development agenda.
Thus we would suggest that the interpretation of the “creative economy” to include heritage. Also, the meaning of “youth” should speak to the challenges faced by young people in all our countries.
We would like to for us to look at the BRICS Bank with hope that it will prioritise funding for the sector. This will unleash the power of the sector for a sustainable development agenda.
Culture in South Africa
For centuries in South Africa we were under colonialism of a special type. As a result, when we looked at the mirror of culture, we did not see the history and heritage of indigenous African people.
It is only now, in the last 21 years of democracy and freedom that we are redefining and recognising ourselves.
In fact, we are ready to use culture to transform our heritage landscape and contribute to economic self-determination and development.
Our National Development Plan stipulates that we use culture to eliminate poverty and reduce in equality. It urges us to effectively promote the creative and cultural industries to support and uplift small business, job creation and urban development and renewal.
We believe tradition, heritage, culture, language and the arts are essential ingredients to nation formation and social cohesion. Heritage is part of the creative economy.
We are looking forward to working with you to use the sector to facilitate production of local content, market and audience development and human capital development.
Over the last two decades, we have used the sector for social transformation and development. This has seen us build new libraries in deprived communities and promoting indigenous languages, among other things.
Effective means of strengthening cultural ties within BRICS
The arts, culture and heritage sector promote dialogue and cooperation. They build trust and provide shared experiences. This BRICS platform must be seen to immediately elevate the sector to a strategic priority.
In fact, the sector should be a standing agenda item on all summit agendas.
Further, the platform should bring on board creative intellectuals and cultural experts to be part of the think tank forum.
In fact, this should be broadened to include professionals and other practitioners to prioritise the cultural agenda.
We are fully in support of the framework that encourages a spirit of working together towards a common goal. It is aligned to our national essential plan and the African Union Agenda 2063.
History will judge us by what we have done. It is time to put our vision into action. This will inspire our people.
For us as South Africa, we would like for the programme of action to include the following:
- Cultural think tank: our institutions, including experts and professionals to work together on matters of mutual interest in the fields of World Heritage, living heritage, heritage conservation and development, indigenous knowledge systems, film development and impact research.
- Cultural platform and networking structure: A mechanism to promote the work of the BRICS group and to share information about the heritage, arts and culture of the countries in the group.
- Communications portal: The development of specific mechanisms to promote market access, skills development, communication and education. New technologies have a significant role to play in this regard, as will exchange programme, particularly focused on young filmmakers.
- Monitoring and evaluation: The development of an agreed framework to analyse and assess the economic impact of the creative economy, including heritage.
This will reposition the sector as an important contributor to the economy.
