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African Arts Economy Conference

The Network will organise a conference on the arts, the creative sector and the African economy on the African continent. Note: The conference will become an annual event, each year alternating between a Francophone and an Anglophone host country.

Project


Problem statement

Given the general state of underdevelopment on the African continent, the arts are often marginalised by those in authority as these are deemed to be “luxury items” that have little economic, developmental, poverty alleviation or job creation roles.
While the ideal would be for the creative and cultural sectors to be supported on their own terms as human rights (as articulated in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), in the African context, it would serve the arts and cultural development if they could be shown to have a broader economic and developmental value.

Aims of Project
  1. to provide artists, arts organisations, creative industries and others with the relevant information, data and analyses to argue for greater support and investment in the creative sector on the African continent.
  2. to contribute to ongoing networking at a regional and continental level.
  3. Participant target.
  4. at least 100 delegates drawn from around the continent.
  5. creative industries in Africa, academics, artists, networks and lobby groups, political decision-makers, media, etc.

Recommended format of the Project
  1. The conference should be a maximum of three days.
  2. It should combine international research and local African research and experts.
  3. There should be a balance between plenary sessions and small group discussions.
  4. Sufficient time is to be allocated to networking opportunities, even at an informal level.

Expected outcomes
  1. a model of a conference programme on the African arts economy that could be developed further and repeated annually.
  2. conference reports with detailed data and papers that could empower African artists and groups with information and arguments that would appeal to those in power.
  3. at least 100 people better informed about the arts and their real and/or potential economic impact on the African continent.