This Budget Vote takes place during Africa Month.
We believe Africa Month – the Festival of Ideas and Cultural Exchange has made giant strides to raising consciousness and awareness among our people about our common African identity. We Are Africa!
The central vision and mission of Africa Month has always been to put arts, culture and heritage at the centre. It is to bring together artists from different background, races, classes and cultures to express and celebrate our unity in diversity. We believe this has taken the country forward.
The arts have, in many instances, always been an instrument of unity, peace and bringing our diverse people together to build one human family in one country. This is what we celebrate through Africa Month!
As we celebrate Africa Month, we have learned with deep sadness of the passing away of the struggle stalwart, Mmam Ruth Mompati.
We offer our condolences to her family, friends and the arts community. We can say that she has run the race and inspired a new generation of leaders to follow in her footsteps.
The Budget Vote takes place at the beginning of the third decade of democracy and freedom towards radical economic transformation.
Above all, this marks the second Budget Vote since the Department redefined its role and mission both in government and society.
The DAC plays a pivotal role in promoting nation building and social cohesion. This focus and responsibility has come to the fore especially in the light of recent attacks against foreign nationals who live among us.
Our democracy and freedom has just turned 21. This means it has matured.
We will not forget role and contribution the international community, especially African countries, have made towards our attainment of democracy and freedom. We remain thankful for that.
Budget vote scope
The Budget Vote will pay special attention to how the arts, culture and heritage sector will contribute to the radical economic transformation of our society.
We shall speak about piloting creative arts incubators across the country. These have the potential to be the hotbeds for cultural entrepreneurship and democratise access to tools of production.
We will also give an update on the Venture Capital Fund to finance the cultural entrepreneurs.
We will talk about our Flagship Events, including the Mzansi Golden Market an e-platform to showcase and promote indigenous artistic works.
We will give an update on Task Team set up to transform the heritage landscape. This goes beyond the removal of colonial symbols.
We will talk about the founding and launch of the Cultural & Creative Industries Federation of South Africa.
We will touch on progress on reviewing the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage
We will talk about the success and contribution of the arts, culture and heritage sector to the national economy. This will entail a report back on the results of achievements of the National Mapping Study.
We shall talk about the Heroes Acre & the Matola Monument on the story of our struggle throughout the country and continent.
We will talk about the successful exhumation, repatriation and reburial of the remains of legends.
We talk about programs that highlight to the celebration of 20 years of democracy.
The core mandate of the Department of Arts & Culture is nation building and social cohesion. We shall talk on the National Social Cohesion Report Back Summit.
We shall talk about engaging with the Dennis Davis Tax Committee on tax incentives in the arts.
We will touch on progress on reviewing the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage
We will talk about how libraries encourage a culture of reading and writing and as a result are transforming the quality of lives.
We will present on the role of national archives as the collective memory of the nation. There is a need to recruit fresh young talent and prioritize this discipline.
Language is the carrier of culture and heritage. We will talk about its development.
We will talk about the integration of arts and culture into the school curriculum and how artists are deployed to popularize their appreciation among the young.
We will give insight into development of crafts as business opportunity and the refurbishment of community art centres.
We are very happy that you have made the time to attend this briefing to engage us on the most important project for the 21st Century. It is nation building and social cohesion. Above all, it is to promote Pan African unity in the pursuit of the African Agenda 2063.
Enquiries:
Sandile Memela
Cell: 082 800 3750
