Arts and Culture to host Africa and Diaspora conference on cultural
diversity for social cohesion and sustainable development, 11 – 15 Sept

23 August 2006

Introduction and background

The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Artistic
Expressions and Cultural Contents has been adopted at the United Nations
Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The Convention
highlights the need for national governments to develop coherent policy for
cultural industries (and other cultural sectors) and to synergise our
approaches between national departments in this regard e.g. between culture and
trade ministries, culture and education ministries etc.

The preliminary draft convention has great implications for the whole of the
developing world. The draft convention has in it a number of articles that are
intended to engender the development of support mechanisms for the developing
world.

It is critical that Africa and the Diaspora have the opportunity to reflect
on key issues contained in the draft convention and the implications of its
implementation. The benefits derived by our region from this Convention will
depend on our proactive engagement of the Convention’s content. It is therefore
imperative that Africa and the Diaspora that are members of UNESCO jointly
strategise regarding the implementation of this Convention.

Envisaged outcomes

The Africa and Diaspora conference on cultural diversity for social cohesion
and sustainable development is a follow-up conference to various conference
initiatives throughout Africa and the Diaspora regarding the Convention. The
realisation of this Convention is very important for the developing world, in
that it will provide for:

* measures to be taken to balance the current imbalances in the trade of
cultural goods and services
* the establishment of financial support mechanisms for the developing
world
* capacity building for the cultural industries and other areas of the cultural
sector in the developing world
* facilitate strong south-south and regional cooperation
* facilitate technology transfer and know-how to the developing world.

Conference description and format

The Africa and Diaspora conference on Cultural Diversity for Social Cohesion
and Sustainable Development will be a four-day conference.

South African President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, will be invited to open the
conference. The South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Pallo Jordan,
will also play a prominent role on the programme. Approximately 400 delegates
from Africa, the Diaspora and the Caribbean will be invited to the conference.
Local hospitality including meals and accommodation will be covered.
Translation will be provided for in the main plenary for the following
languages: English, French, Portuguese, Swahili and Spanish.

The conference will consist of a main plenary where specific themes will be
presented by speakers, followed by six breakaway groups on specific topics
related to the theme presented. There will also be rapporteurs appointed to
guide group discussions during the breakaway sessions and to draw together
critical outcomes of the conference in a report at the end of the conference.
The conference will end with a press conference whereby a statement will be
released to the media.

Key strategic questions

The Africa and Diaspora conference on Cultural Diversity for Social Cohesion
and Sustainable Development will be a lobbying platform for achieving consensus
among countries to develop a common position on key fundamental issues such
as:

* regional policy co-ordination
* role of cultural industries in Africa and the Diaspora
* pro-active engagement of the international fund on cultural diversity
* innovative bilateral partnerships on cultural diversity
* integration of the role of cultural diversity in regional strategies
* the role of culture in effecting social cohesion and social justice.

Draft programme: Africa and Diaspora conference on Cultural Diversity for
Social Cohesion and Sustainable Development

11 September 2006
Arrival of delegates at Sun City. Delegates register as they check in. They
will receive their conference bag and accreditation card upon
registration.
18h30 – 18h35: Welcome: Director-General, Prof Itumeleng Mosala
18h35 – 18h45: Official Opening of the Conference by Minister of Arts and
Culture, Dr Pallo Jordan
18h45 – 19h00: Keynote address
19h00 – 19h30: Opening ceremony spectacular
19h30 – 19h35: Vote of thanks
19h35 – 23h00: Welcome cocktail hosted by the Department of Arts and
Culture

12 September 2006
09h00 – 09h30: Introductory session Prof. MS Makhanya, Commissioner for
Culture: South African National Commission for UNESCO
09h30 – 10h00: Introduction of the facilitators/rapporteurs; overview of
conference objectives
10h00 – 10h15: Speaker 1: Conceptual Framework of the Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
10h15 – 10h30: Speaker 2: Cultural Diversity – An African and Diaspora
perspective. The Relevance of an international instrument on cultural diversity
to Africa and the Diaspora
10h30 – 10h45: Speaker 3: How the protection and promotion of cultural
diversity could be instrumental in the African Renaissance.
10h45 – 11h00: Speaker 4: Challenges and threats to the protection and
promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in Africa and the
Diaspora
11h00 – 11h30: Questions and answers
11h30 – 11h45: Tea and coffee break
11h45 – 13h00: Breakaways
13h00 – 15h00: Lunch
15h00 – 17h00: Reports from breakaway groups
* Group1
* Group2
* Group3
* Group4

13 September 2006
Theme 2: Political framework of the Convention (i.e. the socio, economic and
political implications of international co-operation, obligations of national
states, culture in development etc.)
09h00 – 09h30: Re-cap of the previous day’s discussions
09h30 – 09h50: Speaker 1: Central role of culture in economic and social
development
09h50 – 10h10: Speaker 2: How the protection and promotion of cultural
diversity could be instrumental in the African Renaissance.
10h10 – 10h30: Speaker 3: Challenges and threats to the protection and
promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in Africa and the
Diaspora
10h30 – 10h50: Speaker 4: An African and Diaspora view of the link between
trade and culture – cultural goods and services and cultural industries - as a
driver for economic social development
10h50 – 11h15: Questions and answers
11h15 – 11h30: Tea and coffee break
11h30 – 13h00: Breakaways
13h00 – 15h00: Lunch
15h00 – 17h00: Reports from breakaway groups
* Group1
* Group2
* Group3
* Group4

14 September 2006
Theme 3: The expected impact of the Convention for Africa and the
Diaspora
09h00 – 09h30: Re-cap of the following day’s discussion
09h30 – 09h50: Speaker 1: Harmonisation of cultural policies for Africa and the
Diaspora
09h50 – 10h10: Speaker 2: The role of culture in social cohesion
10h10 – 10h30: Speaker 3: Accessing resources for cultural diversity
10h30 – 10h50: Speaker 4: Cultural diversity, peace and security in Africa and
the Diaspora
10h50 – 11h10: Speaker 5: Strategies for capacitating sustainable cultural
industries for Africa and the Diaspora
11h10 – 11h30: Tea and coffee break
11h30 – 11h50: Speaker 6: Cross-sectoral partnerships for the protection and
promotion of the diversity of cultural content and artistic expressions i.e.
the critical role of education, trade, social development, media and other
sectors.
11h50 – 12h00: Questions and answers
12h00– 13h30: Breakaways
13h30 – 15h00: Lunch
15h30 -17h00: Reports from breakaway groups
* Group1
* Group2
* Group3
* Group4
17h00 – 17h30: Wrap-up and closure

15 September 2006
09h30 – 10h30: Press Conference, Sun City Statement
10h30 – 11h00: Tea and coffee with light snacks
Delegates depart back to Johannesburg

For further information with regard to the conference, please contact:
Ms Nompumelelo Malebye
Tel: (012) 441 3720
E-mail: nompumelelo.malebye@dac.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
23 August 2006