THE ARTS AND HEALTH
THE Arts and Health Research: Inspiring Creative Dialogue, special issue published in Cogent Arts & Humanities, brings together a collection of scholarly, arts-based (or creative practice-based) research papers arising from a two-day interdisciplinary symposium held in Vancouver, Canada in April 2016. The goal in the symposium was to bring together health researchers, artists and designers working within literary, performative and visual practices in order to identify mutual interests and foster cross-pollination between the arts and health, or more precisely across creative practices and health research. With this special issue, the discussion is continues. The hope is that the collected contributions will stimulate wider interest in this rapidly growing field, and that the individual projects, methods and practices discussed here might help support other artists and researchers, seeking new modes of collaboration that cross not only scholarly disciplines, but also, perhaps more importantly, critical fields of inquiry, institutions, cultural practices and social differences.
Download the full report here.
COPYRIGHT is a big issue in the digital age. The copyright debate is raging largely between the European Union (EU) and the big technology giants. EU lawmakers have been working for two years on proposed legislation aimed at updating copyright for the digital age.
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READ the rationale for and outcomes of the process to put together a proposal for a New European Agenda for Culture which was tabled earlier this year. Preliminary research found that European Union citizens believe culture is the most important factor in creating a sense of community. But 36% don't currently participate in cultural activities, so increasing cultural participation would bring Europeans closer together.
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THIS literature review, The rise of coworking spaces: A literature review, by Alessandro Gandini addresses one of the most interesting phenomena to recently emerge in the past two decades: The rise and diffusion of coworking spaces. Co-working spaces are encouraging transformation in the workplace, allowing people to freelance and be independent workers - but ones with access to infrastructure, the internet, information and networks that can work as an "engine" for their profession and growth.
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UNESCO recently launched a 'Policy Monitoring Platform' which allows for easy access to policies and measures implemented in the context of the Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
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The artist with a deep appreciation for art- Mr Avhashoni Mainganye
At a recent SA Cultural Observatory workshop in the Vhembe district in Sibasa, Limpopo, we came across the definition of an artist- Mr Avhashoni Mainganye. Currently based at the Vhembe Arts and Culture centre in Thohoyandou, the unassuming Mainganye is an accomplished painter, printmaker, sculptor, photographer, arts teacher and mentor with more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.
Encouraging a culture of reading a collective responsibility
Various partners have come together to do their bit to encourage and engender the culture of book reading. During the month of September the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the South African Book Development Council (SABDC), Exclusive Books and Bargain Books all participated in initiatives to encourage South Africans to buy and read books.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture invests substantial resources to grow the sector- CCIFSA
In order to support the growth of the industry, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture continues to invest substantial resources in the sector. The Department has invested over R13 million to assist the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA).
Executive Direction
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”.
Gautengers celebrating Heritage Month in style
Every other year as we celebrate heritage month in September, South Africans are spoilt for choice of arts, heritage and cultural experiences. With our rich heritage, we have a wide variety of cultural consumptions to feast on.
