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10 February 2006

Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s another beautiful day in Africa!

Introduction

We will focus on the interventions relating to Arts, Culture and Heritage within this cluster during 2006/07.

Thus without further ado, allow me to outline what Arts and Culture, its associated institutions and the sector in general will do to fulfil and satisfy the aspirations of the people in what President Thabo Mbeki aptly described as the ‘age of hope.’

Following are some of the major activities and projects which make up our Programme of Action during 2006/07. Further details will be made available upon request:

1. Creative Industries

1.1 R100-million investment:

A R100-million investment will be channelled into the creative industries: film, craft, music, television, books, publishing to make a major contribution in closing the gap between First and Second Economies.

We have found new ways to increase our participation in these markets. In fact, it is our responsibility to accelerate growth in these sectors.

We will launch ‘Hubs’ in craft and music industries.

1.2 Boosting publishing through promoting literature in the indigenous language:

We are at an advanced stage of finalising a National Book and Publishing Strategy to stimulate the publication and export of local literature.

Significantly, more books will be translated from indigenous languages into English and vice versa.

1.3 Black Economic Charter for the Publishing Industry:

We are working towards the establishment of a Black Economic Charter for the Books and Publishing Industry.

1.4. Promoting and Expanding Local Ownership in the Music Industry:

Through the Moshito Music Market and the South African Music Export Council (Samex), we are creating an enabling environment for small scale music recording labels to grow their artist rosters.

This is intended to ultimately, break up the monopolies in the industry.

1.4 Employment for 5000 people:

We trust that the above developments have the potential to create employment for over 5000 people in the next three to five years.

1.5 ‘Local is Lekker!’

We intend to intensify the development of local, South African content in the creative industries. This is to promote growth and to enable us to export ‘Proudly South African’ products and thus ignite national pride.

1.5 Closer collaboration within government and associated institutions:

The development and promotion of indigenous artistic products requires synergies with other organisations that share our vision. Over the last few years we have strengthened relations with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Communications, National Film & Video Foundation, the International Marketing Council, Independent Development Corporation and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, to name a few.

1.6 Employment through Skills Empowerment

Our “Investing in Culture” programmes continue to provide opportunities to train cultural workers such as tour guides, musicians, dancers, choristers in groups, orators as well as artists in the tourism sectors.

This is a strategic intervention that adds value to this industry and brings more poor people into the economic mainstream.

1.7 Training Opportunities in Design, Fashion & Film-making:

* We have partnered with the Media Advertising, Publishing, Packaging and Printing Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) to facilitate training.
* We see design in developing craft and fashion/apparel products as an important element in cultural beneficiation.

This training programme is an essential link in the chain joining artistic practice and economic activity.

* The field of Craft and Film have also been identified for this purpose.
The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has a partnership with Australia’s Monash University satellite campus in Sandton to train young film makers in film techniques, for example, cameramen and lighting designers and film editors and sound recorders.

1.8 International Links

* Our highly successful collaboration between British designer Joseph Conran and Woolworths will be used as a model to introduce five new initiatives with South African partners. Rural women will receive priority in our selection of recipients.
* Also, through “Investing in Culture” we have linked up with a United States-based company to market South African products in selected exhibition platforms overseas.

2. The Heritage Sector

2.1 Infrastructure Overhaul:

During this year, R-millions will be spent on upgrading the heritage infrastructure of the country. Obviously, this will make a significant contribution to job-creation, income generation, the promotion of tourism and development of nation-building.

2.2 R700-million for National Archives:

The National Archives building in Pretoria is being refurbished and new infrastructure developed. In fact, a whopping R700 million extension to the National Archives has been approved and is in the design phase.

2.3 R1-Billion for Libraries:

A massive R1-Billion will also be made available over the next three years to fund public libraries. This is to ensure the transformation of the sector and promote of a reading culture.

2.4 A Library Transformation Charter:

Significantly, a charter similar to that for the Books and Publishing Industry, is also being prepared for the libraries.

2.5 Launch of African World Heritage Fund:

In 2005 South Africa hosted the World Heritage Committee Session in Durban. Arising from that conference, we will launch the African World Heritage Fund to maintain and preserve heritage sites on the continent.

This will, inevitably, promote tourism and encourage economic activity.

3. Arts and Culture Institutions and the Language sector:

3.1 Sustainable income for Artists:

We have established four ensembles that provide sustainable jobs for artists. This is important, not only to highlight world class talent but to nurture and keep our musicians here at home.

No one can deny that the standard of our artists is internationally competitive.

3.2 An Art Centre in Every Locality!:

We are turning Community Arts Centres into ‘centres of excellence’, which offer training in financial management, marketing and labour relations to emergent and established artists. This will open up new avenues to youth and women.

3.3 Launching a Translating and Editing Agency:

The arena of translating and editing will have an impact similar to that of ‘call centres’ on the economy of South Africa.

We are looking at the feasibility of establishing a Translating and Editing Agency that can absorb numerous language graduates into the economy.

3.4 Further Employment Opportunities:

Other activities include: the National Youth Expressions Campaign, People Alleviating Poverty (PAP) and Blind Society (CTBS) Project. These projects will create opportunities for youth skills development. Another benefit is to showcase the arts sector as a viable and sustainable source of employment.

3.5 800 Jobs in nine Months:

Eight-hundred-and-ninety learners and unemployed youth will be trained nationally over nine months.

We also aims to integrate disabled and able-bodied people through PAP. A project based in Mafikeng is already underway and specialises in jewellery-making, sewing and paper products.

3.6 National Identity & Pride:

The campaign to develop and popularise National Symbols to galvanise South Africans into developing a sense of nationhood will be intensified this year.

3.7 1 500 Flags in Schools:

Together with the Department of Education, we will continue to implement the Flag in Every School project. We plan to distribute 1 500 flags to schools throughout South Africa this year.

This project is central to encouraging patriotism among our youth and a sense of common nationhood.

3.8 Youth & Vuku-Zenzele:

South Africa has won the bid to host the world 16th World Council Assembly in conjunction with the Africa Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Association. This will be an opportunity to involve youth volunteers as helpers and workers for the World Council.

3.9 Renaming Programme:

We will continue to popularise procedures and policies that govern the naming of geographical features. This will be done in the spirit of the building of a new nation with a new sense of identity.

3.10 Training in Indigenous Languages:

Our Language Research and Development Centres will impart skills to local communities in research methods, lexicography and terminography.

Also, the Human Languages Technologies project, launched last year as TISSA, seeks to bridge the digital divide by making government services and information available in all official languages.

This we believe has a double value of promoting equity as well as economic opportunities offered by government.

Anniversaries and Special Projects

Our flagship projects for the year 2006 shall be the celebration of a number of significant dates and the events around them. These include:
1. The centenary of the Anti-Poll Tax Uprising of 1906 (also known as the Bhambatha Rebellion);
2. The 50th Anniversary of the Women’s Anti- Pass March of 1956.
3. The 30th anniversary of the Soweto Students Uprising
4. The 20th anniversary of the death of President Samora Machel in Mpumalanga
5. Centenary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Satyagraha’
6. 10th anniversary of the South African Constitution
7. 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
8. 50th anniversary of the 1956 Treason Trial

South Africa will also play host to:
9. An International Conference of African Intellectuals co-sponsored with the Africa Institute of SA, the SABC and the DOC
10. The YMCA World Conference in July
And we shall participate in:
10. Closing Ceremony at the Soccer World Cup in Germany in June 2006
11. We will host a Regional and Diaspora conference on Cultural Diversity in March.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
10 February 2006