Note from the Culturalist: CEO
WE WERE privileged this past month to really be up-close-and-personal with South Africa’s premier elevation of culture and creativity, the National Arts Festival 2016. Now in its 41st year, the epic event has firmly solidified its place as the heart of the creative and cultural industries.
Not only is it the primary space for visual, performing and crafting artists to either breakout or stake their claim on the scene; it is a celebration of our nation’s diversity and the length and breadth of our creativity. Although the figures were somewhat down, the artistic programming is to be lauded – both in its showcase of exceptional local talent and the envelope pushing global work staged.
Since we also celebrated Mandela Month in July, it is fitting to reflect on something he said, which to an extent embodies the zeitgeist of the National Arts Festival this year, and what art in all its forms should inspire us to do. Madiba said: “I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles”.
The National Arts Festival’s programme certainly makes us see South Africa from all angles, and through the commentary offered, allows us to interrogate our space and place in our society and as part of the global collective. There was a strong focus on women’s voices, especially in the performing arts, something which is very much needed for the development of our industry, as NVFV CEO, Zama Mkosi underlines in her piece in our newsletter.
This month Bill Gates shared his optimism about Africa's future at the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Pretoria, South Africa. In a way, the merging of tech and new markets in Africa is his cause for celebration – something that is in part driven by the continent’s burgeoning creative and cultural industries. A wonderful research opportunity to explore this impact exists – and, who knows, could be funded by the likes of Gates or even Mark Shuttleworth?
SACO Activities
We have had a steady month in July, with an initial burst of activity around the National Arts Festival, and then some time spent consolidating reports and preparing for an eight-part series of domain workshops set to take place countrywide during the remainder of the year. A schedule will follow shortly, but the first one is scheduled for Mpumalanga on 18 August.
We have made a number of new appointments over the past two months including the appointment of the new Knowledge Manager, Tazleen January, who is tasked with taking both our information and sector information to new heights, via our online and physical library. We also welcome to our ranks Bavuyile Mbatha, our new Administrative Officer.
The in-house research team has grown considerably with Siphosethu Tetani appointed as full-time researcher, and Unathi Lutshaba, Asanda Mbewu and Motsoasle (Motsi) Leballo who will be working at the Observatory on a part-time basis. Tembela XhoXho is an addition to the Observatory’s internship ranks. We are very pleased to have a growing group of young thinkers driving our research agenda.
In addition, Prof Jen Snowball, SACO’s Chief Economist, gave her fascinating talk on Mapping the Cultural Industries in South Africa at a NAF ThinkFest session on 1 July.
Dr Sybert Liebenberg, SACO’s Research Director, has completed a significant batch of the planned series of country briefings on the cultural dynamics and CCI data of countries in Africa and beyond. This exercise will contribute to DAC’s strategic intelligence in its expanding cultural diplomacy work.
I have been working with our Research Director on expanding our networks with academics and researchers in regard to new potential commissioned research. We’ve also been continuing with the long-term process of expanding and consolidating our networks in the various ACH and CCI sectors; and developing our partnerships with strategic entities such as StatsSA. We are also driving and building on substantive international partnerships.
Sticking with our beloved Madiba’s words of wisdom, as we move through the winter, “Tread softly; breathe peacefully; laugh hysterically”.
Until then, enjoy the July edition of The Cultural Observer.
Your culturalist,
Prof. Richard Haines
South African Cultural Observatory: CEO