The Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Lulu Xingwana will host learners from all nine provinces over a two-day Youth and Underwater Cultural Heritage Educational Awareness Programme to create awareness of underwater cultural heritage. Each province will be represented by two learners (grades 10 to 11) who have interest in history, culture, heritage, maritime, archaeology and similar learning areas.
The awareness programme is been designed to expose youths from diverse backgrounds to Underwater Cultural Heritage. The Department of Arts and Culture intends to develop programmes that offer practical learning experience in various maritime archaeological practices in collaboration with stakeholders such as the South African Heritage Resources Agency.
The learners will attend workshops that highlight the global context of the South African underwater cultural heritage resources and employment opportunities that are possible in the sector. It is hoped that the programme will help popularise this sector. Activities will include supervised diving into underwater cultural sites (shipwrecks, etc) and video presentations of the daily activities of maritime archaeologists. On 16 October, the group will participate in more activities including a formal programme and interaction with the Minister at Simons Town on board a ship. A programme will be released in due course for more details.
Date: Friday, 16 October 2009
Time: 12h30
Venue: SAS Mendi, Simons Town, Naval Base
Address: Cole Point Gate- SA Navy off Simons Town, Main Road
Draft programme:
Programme Director: Mr T P Wakashe, Director General of the Department of Arts and Culture
12h30: Performance by Navy Seals
12h40: Welcoming Remarks by Ms S Masuku-van Damme, CEO of the South African Heritage Resources Agency
12h45 Remarks by H E Mr R De Vos, Dutch Ambassador
12h50: Keynote Address by Ms L Xingwana, Minister of Arts and Culture
13h00: Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), CIE and RIM
13h10: Vote of thanks by Mr V Ndima: Acting Deputy Director-General: Heritage
Enquiries:
Berri Samuel
Tel: 021 462 4502
Cell: 083 230 2761
Mpho Matjele
Cell: 072 218 5657
RSVP:
Carol Moses
Cell: 082 829 3917
E-mail: cmoses@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
12 October 2009
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://dac.gov.za)
