FESTAC 2004 CAPE TOWN DEC 1-7 ALL AFRICA, DIASPORA & WORLD FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS & CULTURE
C/O MK Malefane Entertainment (Pty) Ltd
P.O Box 784134 Sandton 2146 South Africa
Tel +27 11 312-0596 Fax +27 11 312-0394 Mobile : +27 83 982 0658
Email : [email protected] ; [email protected]
4 June 2004
Attention: Ms Tamara Cawe
Committee Secretary
Ad Hoc Committee on Arts and Culture
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
CAPE TOWN
Reference: 2004/2005 Arts and Culture Budget Vote No. 14 Public Hearings
Our comment and assessment is focused on Programme 4: Cultural Development and International Co-operation and accepting, on the one hand, the stated purpose that is; improve economic and other development opportunities for South African arts and culture nationally and globally through mutually beneficial partnerships, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the sector and on the other, to achieve the measurable objective of increased access and participation of grassroots arts practitioners in the cultural industry economic activities through training, legislation and international opportunities.
To the extent that the responsible department, that is, arts and culture aligns the this purpose and objective with its twin broader and greater national purpose, that is, African Renaissance-AU-NEPAD co-operation and development at a continental and Diaspora level; and broader and greater national objective that is, deliver on our government and President Mbeki’s manifesto "A Peoples’ Contract to Fight Poverty and Create Jobs", the challenge and indeed the commitment to deliver on the purpose and measurable objectives in Programme 4 will begin to be met.
Specifically, without deviating from the already set Department of Arts and Culture’s current program of action, business plan and financial budget, we strongly recommend and believe the following are achievable:
1 That minimum SEED funding of R1million be allocated towards the establishment of a special cultural industries development and investment fund "CULTURE BANK" that will work with existing local and international funding institutions to mobilize funding for sustainable development and commercial investment in the cultural industries sector in South Africa and
to strengthen and grow South Africa’s cultural export commodities. To this end, extend the services of this "Culture Bank" and its support institutions to SADC, the continent and Diaspora in order to fulfil broader African Union and NEPAD objectives. Whilst supported by government, such "Culture Bank" be established and managed independently like all development and financial investment institutions. Institutions that have already been contacted and have expressed "in principle" support for the "Culture Bank" proposal include the World Bank.
2 That parallel to the design and establishment of such development and investment "Culture Bank" institution, conduct consultations and secure government and civil society buy-in through the hosting in South Africa under the auspices of the African Union and NEPAD of a continental (and Diaspora) consultative workshop or conference by ministers of culture, business and civil society sector stake holders that will formulate a continental culture and cultural industries policy and action plan for Africa. The World Bank ‘s culture division is amongst institutions that have pledged funding commitment for such a continental workshop.
3 That, as an All Africa, Diaspora and world event celebrating and closing our 10 Years of Freedom, the Department of Arts and Culture finally recognize and support preparations to host in Cape Town-Western Cape, FESTAC (All Africa, Diaspora and World Festival of the Arts & Culture) in December 1-7 2004.
The December 2004 events programme will be Jointly hosted by UN-UNESCO, the Western Cape Provincial Government, City of Cape Town, University of Cape Town and other institutions and civil society stake holders and will incorporate colloquia (conferences-symposia-workshops); exhibitions (art, handicrafts, fashion, books, film etc); live performances (music, dance, theatre, poetry etc); a Carnival and grand parade to celebrate December 2nd International Day for the Abolition of Slavery; December 1 World Aids Day. There will also be sporting activities in particular, an international soccer tournament to celebrate the 2010 World Cup Tournament coming to South Africa and Africa (and FIFA’s Centenary). This Phase One of FESTAC will incorporate an international planning conference for the second phase and bigger world event December 2005.
We recommend that the planning workshop for the proposed ministers of culture and civil society stakeholders take place in the Western Cape around this December 1-7 2004 period.
Realizing Programme 4: Cultural Development and International Cooperation’s Purpose and Measurable Objective through the above 3 proposals are indeed achievable, that is, if you the Ad Hoc Committee on Arts and Culture ensure that the National Department of Arts and Culture, particularly through its International Affairs Directorate, for the first time, fulfil their obligations and responsibilities, which to date, have been a dismal failure and which many of us civil society stake holders have a painful many years experience of.
Lack of cooperation and sometimes even deliberate frustration and undermining by the Department of Arts and Culture of good and worthy initiatives has not only been felt by or restricted to those of us in civil society but as well as other government departments, South Africa’s diplomatic missions in Africa and abroad and foreign governments and international institutions which has seriously undermined and harmed South Africa’s potential and its cultural relations with other countries.
Nothing short of a full scale hearing on the performance of the Department of Arts and Culture that will call upon testimonies of all affected is being strongly recommended here honourable Members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Arts and Culture.
We wish you success with the deliberations during this Public Hearings on the 2004/2005 Arts and Culture Budget Vote NO. 14.
Sincerely,
MK MALEFANE
CHAIRPERSON: FESTAC 2004 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE