Arts and Culture supports World Design Policy Conference
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa will deliver a keynote address at the closing ceremony of the World Design Policy Conference on Saturday,18 October 2014.
The conference hosted under the theme, “Make a Plan” will be held in Cape Town stadium from 17 to 18 October 2014.
The Department of Arts and Culture supports the Cape Town’s new status as the World Design Capital (WDC). The City of Cape Town was awarded the WDC designation in October 2011 for its bid promise to socially transform the city through design.
“It is most fitting that the creative thinking and new policy resolutions to elevate design into an instrument of socio-cultural innovation takes place in our country where we grappling with issues of transformation to reflect our diversity, heritage and new identity as a people.
“This will unavoidably put us in the forefront of creative thinking process that will encourage people to make extra-ordinary designs out of the ordinary, said Minister Mthethwa.
The WDC Design Policy Conference is the fourth in a series of six signature events that are part of the year-long WDC 2014 programme to celebrate and recognise socially-inclusive design in the City of Cape Town. The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) bestows the WDC designation biennially to a city that uses design as a tool for Cultural, Social and Economic development.
One of the key objectives of the conference is to convene policymakers, African and global policy influencers, business, education, non-governmental organisation (NGO’s), government, and the design community at large in Africa and internationally to come up with a policy framework on world design. The policy framework will be expected to address challenges and development of the sector, means to encourage a competitive edge and harness innovation effectively in the sector.
The Policy Conference will also offer an opportunity to convene and advance the work started by the Department of Arts and Culture, the SABS Design Institute and the HSRC in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in March 2014, towards the creation of a national policy framework and the development of a national design strategy.
The Cape Town Design Non-Profit Company will curate a thought-provoking view of design in cities that reflects the positive influence design has on city development and how it impacts on citizen’s lives. The exhibition will also seek to highlight the "Transform Life" element of the over-arching theme of WDC Cape Town 2014: Live Design. Transform Life. The "Transforming Cities" Exhibition will provide insights into the "how" and "what", showcasing a breadth of solutions and innovation through design.
“We have the potential to transform the conditions of our people and public spaces into material circumstances that inspire pride and self-determination,” said Minister Mthethwa.
Enquiries:
Sandile Memela
Cell: 082 800 3750
E-mail: sandilem@dac.gov.za
Lisa Combrinck
Cell: 082 821 4886
E-mail: lisac@dac.gov.za
