Executive Direction - August 2019
This year the International Women’s Day theme was #BalanceforBetter. It essentially talks to a balanced world being a better world. The International Women’s Day partners adopted a year-long campaign that seeks to encourage as many people to contribute in ‘forging a more gender-balanced’ world while celebrating women’s achievements.
In this newsletter, to commemorate the Women’s month, we took a view to dedicate the entire edition to women who are involved in the arts, culture and creative industries. Our purpose is to encourage them to continue to excel in their chosen artistic areas, while they inspire other women- young and old.
While many female artists may still face challenges in the industry, there are many who continue to push the boundaries to remove the obstacles, not only for themselves, but also for those will follow on their footsteps. Women often face gatekeeping systems that can either open or close off opportunities for them to advance in their artistic careers. The more women who enter the industry, the higher are the chances for dismantling gatekeeping systems
In celebrating the women in the sector, we give them extra courage and acknowledgement that someone notices and appreciates their work. Speaking at UNESCO-sanctioned International Women’s Day event, musicians Victor Solf and Simon Carpentier from the group Her echo this sentiment and contend that “it is important to recognize the talents and achievements of women as creators and cultural entrepreneurs”.
Until then,
Unathi Lutshaba
Executive Director: South African Cultural Observatory
As we celebrate heritage month, as we visit various heritage sites, as we remember the journey walked and traversed by our forebears, it is wise to take to heart the words of the Spanish philosopher and essayist George Santayana when he said that “those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes, and those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it”.
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The first quarter of our new financial year (2019/20) has been characterized by several momentous events. The country held successful national elections, elected the sixth administration into office, new national assembly members and new provincial legislatures
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These past few months have seen some good momentum gained in providing direction to the research outputs of the South African Cultural Observatory. In the same vein, the inputs for the Research Agenda have expanded the research possibilities for the Observatory and the sector as a whole.
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THE SOUTH African Cultural Observatory has a trove of research. Over the past three years we have generated research reports, monitoring and evaluation reports, a ground-breaking mapping study and more. We are intent on sharing this research widely and ensuring that the sector benefits, empowering through knowledge.
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The arts sector is economic gold
The arts and culture sector is at the frontline of freedom of expression. It is not only a barometer of a healthy democracy but also a significant employer in South Africa.
Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) funding
The application period for 2020/2021 Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) funding from the Department of Arts and Culture has been extended from 11th to 18th November 2019.
Call for the 2020 NMU/DAC bursary programme application
The DAC bursary programme at the Nelson Mandela University wishes to inform all prospective language studies students that the DAC bursary programme for 2020 is now open.
SA museums have come long way
The main function of museums has traditionally revolved around collecting, preserving, researching and displaying objects. To control a museum means precisely to control the representation of a community and its highest values and truths. It is also the power to define the relative standing of individuals within that community. Museums are more than containers of things; rather, they are complex reflections of the cultures that produced them, including their politics, social structures, and systems of thought. Cultural institutions, like museums, can be powerful in telling the “authorised” version of our histories, in shaping national identity and in building social cohesion, as well as contributing to education and research through their collection, archiving and conservation of artefacts.
The SACO team attends UNCTAD’s Creative Economy Ad Hoc Expert Meeting in Geneva
The SA Cultural Observatory Executive Director, Unathi Lutshaba & Head of Research, Prof Jen Snowball participate in UNCTAD’s Creative Economy Ad Hoc Expert Meeting in Geneva. The meeting was first of its kind & was aimed at bringing together experts from various countries to discuss the relationship between creative industries and economic development.
