Jozi hosts an international celebration and indaba of the arts this September. The World Summit on Arts and Culture is a global celebration and investigation of the impact of the arts, artists and arts organisations on culture, society, the economy and nation building, and the role of public funders (arts councils and ministries of culture) in supporting that activity. It is convened by the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) and takes place every three years. IFACCA was established in 2001 and has over 100 members worldwide. The World Summit on Arts and Culture is open to everyone with an interest in arts and cultural policy, and public support for artistic endeavour.
The first three World Summits were held in Canada (Ottawa), Singapore and England (Newcastle Gateshead). The National Arts Council of South Africa, a founding member of IFACCA, was selected to host the 4th World Summit on Arts and Culture in Johannesburg in 2009 after a competitive bidding process. The National Arts Council is supported in this lead role by the national Department of Arts and Culture, the Province of Gauteng (Department of Sport, Arts, and Recreation) and the City of Johannesburg (Directorate of Arts, Culture and Heritage and the Johannesburg Tourism Company)
The proposed theme of the Summit is the role of the arts in promoting inter-cultural dialogue. A key aim of the Summit is to celebrate and investigate South Africa’s unique experience in this field and to acknowledge and explore the different operating environments and approaches of arts funding agencies working in the developed and the developing world.
Need to know? The Summit will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 28 September to 1 October 2009. For further information contact Rosie Katz, coordinator, 4th Worlds Summit on Arts and Culture, National Arts Council of SA, Box 500, Newtown, Johannesburg, 2113. Tel: +26 11 838 1383, Fax: +26 11 838 6363
info@nac.org.za; rosie@nac.org.za.