World Summit to explore cultural diversityNAC - National Arts Council08/01/2009 10:03:28 
World Summit to explore cultural diversity At the 4th World Summit on Arts and Culture in September the theme will be Meeting of Cultures: Creating Meaning through the Arts. From 22 -25 September arts and culture policy makers, funders and representatives of international, regional and national artists’ networks will gather in Johannesburg to discuss a range of topics. The three day Summit programme includes key note addresses, panel discussions and a range of roundtable sessions which will explore, challenge or affirm current dogmas and practices in the arts and culture policy arena by testing these with a variety of international experiences. Summit Programme Director: Mike van Graan said: “The UNESCO Convention on the Promotion and Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions provides a backdrop to the Summit and its deliberations. This is the first time that the World Summit is being held in a ‘developing country’ so the event will provide a platform for voices that are not often heard at mainstream international cultural events. “The diversity of voices, implicit in the Summit theme, will hopefully stimulate debate and arrive at, perhaps, new, meaning through this meeting of cultures”, he continued. WORLD SUMMIT PROGRAMMING RATIONALE The programme content and structure is devised to serve the multiple aims of the 4th World Summit on Arts and Culture. The key objectives are: - To provide insights and stimulating debate and thinking among policy makers about their work within contemporary global and national challenges - To challenge or affirm current dogmas and practices in the arts and culture policy arena by testing these with a variety of international voices and experiences - To provide opportunities to build relationships and potential partnerships that will take further the themes, ideas and agreements initiated at the Summit - To serve the networking, and information sharing objectives and interests of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) and its members - To provide practical examples of the theme in action i.e. facilitating intercultural dialogue through the arts CONTEXT: MEETING OF CULTURES: CREATING MEANING THROUGH THE ARTS The world is increasingly divided by “cultural” rather than political ideology, where threats of dominance by the “other” is largely based on ignorance about the “other.” Notwithstanding the recent collapse of communism and apartheid, the world remains - and is in fact, increasingly - divided, with adverse implications for global relations, for nations and for communities within nations. Such divisions - at least in how they are expressed or perceived - have taken on a more “cultural” form. The arts - music, theatre, dance, literature, film, visual arts, etc - are seen by some as a possible bridge between cultures, to provide safe, non-threatening points of entry into understanding “other”. This proposition and the relationship between the arts, culture and community development, whether at local, national, regional or international levels will be debated at the Summit. Context: Key sub-themes: - A post-cold war, and more particularly post-9/11 world which is increasingly divided by values, beliefs, religion, etc - Fear, anxiety about and feelings of being threatened by “other” based largely on ignorance about “other” - Rising xenophobic and nationalistic tendencies, with immigrants feeling the brunt whether in Europe, South Africa or Thailand - Globalization based on economic integration that threatens diversity and potentially homogenises the views and interests of economically and militarily powerful nations - The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions that requires implementation KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & TOPICS The keynote sessions on the first two days are designed to set the tone for discussions around the primary themes, to provoke dialogue and to stimulate thinking in new directions for policy-makers. Four keynote speakers have been selected to address delegates at the 4th World Summit on Arts and Culture. To ensure a diversity of cultural expressions, the keynote speakers include two speakers from the North and two from the South. All speakers hail from different continents. It is intended that the variety of worldview contexts will combine to anchor a catalytic and engaging programme. Keynote 1: Wednesday 23 September Topic: Sword or Ploughshare, Bridge or Dynamite: the Arts as Vehicles for Crossing Cultural Divides The arts are viewed as bridge builders. However, the arts can also cause friction e.g. cartoons, movies, theatre or exhibitions that mock or undermine the values of others. Freedom of expression versus cultural sensitivities: what is the state of our contemporary world order and how can the arts play a role - if at all - in bridge building? Is this the role of the arts or is this a wish or an imposition of public funders to align the arts with their political imperatives? Speakers: - Dr Stojan Pelko: State Secretary for Culture in Slovenia - Dr Njabulo Ndebele : South African writer, academic and commentator Keynote 2: Thursday 24 September Topic: Cultural Diversity: Imperative for World Peace or the Root of All Conflict? The prevailing assumptions - reflected in UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity in Cultural Expressions - are that: - Cultural diversity is a good thing that it needs to be nurtured - In a globalised world dominated by creative products from major economies, marginalised countries need to be empowered to compete in the global market of ideas and values through creative industries. And yet, culture - different values, religious beliefs, histories, traditions, and worldviews - appear to be at the root of many of the major crises. What, then, are the primary challenges? - To encourage cultural diversity and peaceful co-existence? - For the powerful to assimilate “other” and homogenise the world to be a better place? - To promote a melting-pot paradigm of new cultures? Speakers: - Minister Lindsay Blackett: Minister of Arts & Culture in Alberta, Canada - Madeeha Gauhar: theatre activist from Pakistan PANEL DISCUSSIONS On Day 1 and 2 of the Summit, two plenary sessions will feature the following panel discussion topics and speakers. Day 1: Wednesday 23 September Instrumentalisation of the Arts for the Public Good: is intercultural dialogue worth conscripting artists? Speakers: - Nkanta George Ufot (Nigeria): Director: Culture, Nigerian Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation - Mercedes Giovinazzo (Spain): Director, Interarts - Iman Auon (Palestine): Artistic Director, Ashtar Theatre - Minister Olivia Grange: (Jamaica) Minister of Youth Sport & Culture & CARICOM (Caribbean Community & Common Market) Minister of Culture Day 2: Thursday 24 September Intercultural Dialogue through the Arts: Best International Practice models Speakers still to be announced ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS In the afternoon sessions for Day 1 and 2 delegates will have a choice of one of ten roundtable topics related to the broader theme of the Summit. The names of 20 presenters were announced on 30 July - see http://www.artsummit.org/programme/structure/ ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES Discussions and presentations will be interspersed with arts performances from around Africa, practically demonstrating the role of the arts in intercultural dialogue. PROGRAMME & SPEAKER UPDATES The updated titles are in the programme at a glance on the World Summit website at: http://www.artsummit.org/programme/structure/ FINAL DAY PROGRAMME: Friday 25 September On the last day of the Summit, delegates will have the opportunity to look to the future by exploring the following: - How do we continue these discussions in our own countries? - How do we advocate for the arts, on the African continent and internationally? The final session will also feature the announcement of the host country for the 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture. RESEARCH: INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE A major component of preparations for the Summit is a survey being conducted on IFACCA’s behalf by ERICarts: ‘Achieving Intercultural Dialogue through the Arts and Culture?’ The results of the survey, and related resources, will be published at: www.ifacca.org/topic/intercultural-dialogue-cultural-diversity/ LANDMARK EVENT FOR AFRICA The 4th World Summit on Arts and Culture is the first of its kind to be held in Africa. The event is heralded as a landmark international event which will enable firsthand exchange between policy makers, funding agencies and other key players in arts and culture. There will be a special focus on the African experience at the Summit. HOSTS The National Arts Council of South Africa will host the Summit with the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). PARTNERS The South African partners for the 4th WSoAC are: - The Department of Arts & Culture (National) - The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation - The City of Johannesburg - The Johannesburg Tourism Company - Business and Arts South Africa International partners for the 4th WSoAC include: - Arts Council of Finland - Danish Arts Agency - Arts Council of Norway - The Commonwealth Foundation DELEGATES It is estimated that the 4th WSoAC will attract about 400 delegates from 70 countries ranging from Mongolia to Morocco, Kenya to Colombia and Finland to Fiji. Interested parties are invited to register online. Log onto: www.artsummit.org for more information. KEY WEBSITE LINKS - Official Summit Website www.artsummit.org - IFACCA: www.ifacca.org - National Arts Council: www.nac.org.za For further information on the Summit see www.artsummit.org or contact: - Rosie Katz, Summit Coordinator coord@summit.org - Natasha Eves, IFACCA, info@ifacca.org ENDS Picture: No Submitted by Dianne Regisford-Gueye PR Company: Talawa Communications Telephone Number: 011 646 0821 Cellphone Number: 082 576 9739 Client`s name: National Arts Council Website: http://artsummit.org |
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