Arts and Culture supports the Symposium on the Interface between Cultural Policy and Development
The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) in collaboration with Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of the Arts and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) National Commission of South Africa (NATCOM) will co-host an international symposium focusing on the interface between Cultural Policy and Development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region, on 9 and 10 March 2016 at the Department of Basic Education Building (DBEB) in Pretoria.
The symposium aims at paving the way for the Faculty of the Arts’ envisaged plan to establish a UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policy and Development.
The primary objectives of the envisaged UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policy and Development is to enhance capacity building for cultural policy and development in South Africa and the SADC region as well as to encourage creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship through the growth of the cultural and creative industries.
It is also to promote resource mobilisation, academic engagement and research collaboration among SADC member states, universities and other local and international stakeholders and to create a platform for dialogue between policy-makers, researchers, public and private organisations and civil society on the planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cultural policies, programmes and related projects.
To fulfil these objectives, the symposium will bring together a selection of experts from South Africa, SADC, African Union, USA, Europe and Australia in order to explore the different points of intersection between cultural policy and development.
While acknowledging that SADC countries recognise the need for strong cultural policy frameworks that can drive creativity, innovation and development in their national economies, they have not yet made visible and practical policy shifts from merely supporting arts, culture and heritage.
The symposium will not only promote partnerships between universities and governments, public and private organisations, industry and civil society, but will also facilitate the establishment of mutual collaboration between symposium delegates as stakeholders on matters of cultural policy and sustainable development.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: 9 to 10 March 2016
Time: 8h30
Venue: Department of Basic Education Building (DBEB), Sol Plaatjies House, 222 Struben Street
Media RSVPs:
James Mathibeng
Tel: 012 441 3639
Cell: 078 802 8851
E-mail: JamesMa@dac.gov.za
Media enquiries:
Teresa Magidela
Tel: 012 441 3626
E-mail: TeresaM@dac.gov.za
