launched the Gauteng Creative Industries Development Framework today at a
Summit in Ekurhuleni
7 March 2006
The Summit was attended by approximately 400 delegates from the arts and
culture sector, local government and the private sector.
The Summit aims to build support and also to gain stakeholder feedback on
the strategy for provincial government's approach to building creative
industries in the province.
Creative industries have been identified at both provincial and national
level as a key sector to promote economic growth and job creation.
Opening the summit at Carnival City this morning, MEC for Finance and
Economic Affairs Paul Mashatile stressed the importance of aligning the
Province's approach to arts and cultural industries with the Province's Growth
and Development Strategy.
"The recent success of Tsotsi at the Oscar Awards, indicates the potential
this sector has for major commercial success both locally and internationally,"
said MEC Mashatile.
Presenting the Provincial Government's Arts and Creative Industries
Framework, the MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ms Barbara Creecy,
stressed the important contribution this sector can make to tourism, urban
regeneration, youth development, cultural identity and nation building.
"The summit aims to provide a co-ordinating framework for investment and
implementation in the province," added the MEC.
"To do this it's important we look at ways for government to work with
artists, the private sector and community organisations. Areas for joint
co-operation include finance and business initiatives, expanding markets and
tourism linkages, training and after care support for artists and intervention,
as well as investing in live performance circuits and roving community
markets," concluded the MEC.
Enquiries:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Cell: 083 507 8068
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng
Provincial Government
7 March 2006
Source: SAPA
