27 July 2006
The Minister of Arts and Culture invites members of the media to the
"Ministerâs Monthly Cultural Forum". In an effort to create a platform for
role-players and stakeholders to debate issues of culture and identity, the
Department of Arts and Culture has launched the "Ministerâs Monthly Cultural
Forum". These monthly forums will be led by the Minster, Dr Z Pallo Jordan and
the Director-General, Prof. Itumeleng Mosala and is open to the general public
but especially to role-players and stakeholders in the Arts and Culture
sector.
The forum, which is intended to help the Department reach out to as many
arts and culture role-players as possible will address different topics
relating to culture. The main objective of the forum is to generate debates and
raise the consciousness of South African citizens around the significant role
that culture and the arts play in the societal development and national
reconciliation.
The forum takes the form of an address by an invited speaker on a chosen and
negotiated topic, which is followed up with questions and comments from members
of the audience. Universities around the country are usually asked to play host
to the forum. We believe the event ties in well with one of the strategy
pillars of local universities, âEncouraging critical enquiry and debates around
issues of national importanceâ.
The highly successful inaugural Ministerâs Culture Forum took place on 9
September 2005. This was addressed by one of Africaâs prominent scholars and
social anthropologists, Professor Archie Mafeje, who gave a general perspective
on culture and arts in the African continent.
The last forum was held on Friday, 9 June 2006 at Wits University, where
"Cultured Land â a case for Government land and resource availability for
traditional initiation schools" was discussed.
The next Ministerâs Culture Forum is going to take place on Tuesday, 1
August 2006, at the Main Hall, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal,
Durban, starting at 19h00. The topic is "Macro-Social Trends in South
Africa".
Programme
19h00: Welcome address, Prof. Malegapuru Makgoba (Vice-Chancellor:
University of Kwazulu-Natal)
19h15: Purpose and Introduction of speaker, Prof. Itumeleng Mosala
(Director-General: Department of Arts and Culture)
19h35: Main Address, Mr Joel Netshitenzhe (Head: Policy and Advisory
Services: The Presidency)
20h05: General discussion involving audience
21h15: Concluding thoughts, Dr Z Pallo Jordan (Minister of Arts and
Culture)
Date: 1 August 2006
Time: 19h00
Venue: Main Hall, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
Enquiries: Mack Lewele
Tel: (012) 441 3083
Cell: 082 450 5076
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
27 July 2006
