Creecy to lead a study tour to New Mexico
21 May 2006
Gauteng Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Barbara Creecy will lead a
study tour to Sante Fe, New Mexico (USA) from the 22 to 26 May 2006. The main
purpose of the tour is to study best practice in relation to the promotion of
cultural industries. Cultural industries include the visual and performing
arts, film, craft and design industries. The Gauteng Growth and Development
strategy has identified the sector as key to the stimulation of economic growth
and job creation in the province.
Sante Fe is currently the only town in the world that generates an annual
turnover of about $2 billion from arts, craft and design. The industry has been
built on a combination of indigenous and modern design.
"Cultural industries contribute directly to tourism, urban regeneration,
youth development, cultural identity and nation building," says Creecy.
"We attach great importance to the development of this sector as they have
potential to significantly improve the quality of life of our people," said MEC
Creecy.
The tour aims to promote the development of a high value craft, jewellery
and design sector in the province that will enable artists and crafters to
transcend traditional production for more sophisticated value added
approaches.
It will also assist in undertaking a match-making with appropriate
institutions in Sante Fe that can assist South African artists, designers, and
crafters to improve skills and establish commercial links. Possibilities of a
twinning agreement with the government of New Mexico will also be
investigated.
Amongst the delegates who will be accompanying the MEC will be the Chief
Executive Officer of the Gauteng Film office, Terry Tselane; Gauteng Economic
Development Head of Department, Bongi Kunene; and the Head of Design at the
University of Pretoria, Pieter Oberholzer.
The trip follows a Creative Industries Summit in March when stakeholders
discussed a strategy to grow the sector in the Province.
Enquiries:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Cell: 083 507 8068
Tel: (021) 355 2578
Issued by: Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng
Provincial Government
21 May 2006
