The Arterial network to Facilitate Participation of African Journalists at the Highway Africa Conference
January 2010 Newsletter
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| Table of contents: |
| I.What’s new with the ARTerial Network? Funding Partners recommit to Arterial Network Plans and Projects for 2010 Become a member of the Arterial Network Call for Applicants for the Second Advocacy and Networking Training Programme Building in-country Networks Call for Participants in Arterial Network Reading Groups Monthly Seminars Call for Blogs Tipping Point Conference on Climate Change Salzburg Global Seminar on Performing Arts in Lean Times Connect CP registration II. Calls for projects/Invitations Talent Campus Insakartists calling for submission 22 April to 4 May 2010 Call for Artists: Afropixel Festival III.Meetings and Conferences The African indigenous knowledge systems summit, 10-11 March 2010, Gaborone Sun Hotel, Botswana Second World Journalism Education Congress South Africa, 5 to 7 July 2010 III. Others Lola Kenya Screen 2010 Film Awards Call For Papers for Special Issue on Culture and Sustainable Communities Arts Journalism Training V. Contact us |
| What’s new at the Arterial Network? |
| Funding Partners recommit to Arterial Network |
| Arterial Network’s core funding partners – Africalia, Doen, HIVOS and Stromme Foundation – hosted a meeting in Amsterdam in December 2009 with the Secretary General outlining the forthcoming plans of the Network as adopted by the Steering Committee at the end of November. Having had direct experience of Arterial Network at its second conference in Johannesburg in September, the funding partners expressed their satisfaction with the growth of the Network. All recommitted their support – both financial and moral – for Arterial Network in 2010. |
| Plans and Projects for 2010 |
| On the basis of the commitments of our funding partners, the following projects and activities are being planned for 2010: the second networking and advocacy “winter school”; monthly in-country seminars; cultural policy reading groups and publications; research and a conference on the African creative economy; the establishment of an African arts sponsors’ network; the production of toolkits in arts marketing, arts advocacy, fundraising and the business of the arts; working towards establishing an African Fund for arts and Culture; leadership training and mentoring; monthly newsletters; the ongoing development of the arts-in-Africa website; the production of an African Directory on Arts and Culture; the launch of a number of in-country networks that would have their own internal programmes; the establishment of a cultural policy task group to work on cultural policy issues from a civil society perspective and training courses in cultural entrepreneurship, the use of information technology in the arts, arts marketing, etc. In order to grow our capacity around the continent, we will also establish our first regional secretariat in Kenya within the first six months of 2010. |
| Become a Member of the Arterial Network |
The Arterial Network is pleased to extend an invitation to you to become a member of our network for free. This membership can be full, honorary or as an associate. Full explanations about membership and benefits are available on our website: www.arterialnetwork.org as well as in our constitution. The Arterial Network comprises of individuals, institutions, membership-based organisations and funding partners working to support the effectiveness and growth of an African arts and culture civil society. Our vision is of a vibrant, dynamic and sustainable African creative sector engaged in qualitative practice in the arts in their own right, as well as in a manner that contributes to development, to the eradication of poverty, to human rights and to democracy on the African continent. To apply for membership complete the membership form on our website. It will be automatically send through to our database. The Arterial Network Project Manager, Margerie Vacle, is available to answer any questions you may have. You can contact her on Margerie@arterialnetwork.org. We look forward to welcoming you on board the Arterial Network. |
| Call for applicants for the Second Advocacy and Networking Training Programme |
| The second Arterial Network training programme in building national advocacy networks will take place from 10-20 April, most likely in a country north of Southern Africa. The first networking “winter school” was held in Cape Town and the next two – again supported by the European Union and HIVOS – will each be held in a different region. Given the conference decision to build national networks to – among others – lobby for civil society involvement in the implementation of the Nairobi Plan of Action on Cultural Industries, these training sessions are crucial to the development of national artists’ networks. Those interested in attending should send applications to margerie@arterialnetwork.org by 19 February 2010 and should include a letter motivating why they should attend and how the training programme will benefit the establishment or consolidation of a national network in their country. The application should also include a CV and letters of reference of two persons affirming the applicant’s involvement in artists’ networks in their country. |
| Building in-Country Networks |
| One of the key outcomes of the Arterial Network conference in September was the appointment of country representatives for at least 28 countries, their primary task being the establishment of in-country artist networks, working under the banner of, or in association with Arterial Network. Thus far, Liberia and Swaziland have already established interim Steering Committees and Mali and Zimbabwe have reported progress in this regard too. |
| Call for Participants in Arterial Network Reading Groups |
| At its cultural policy seminar and subsequent Steering Committee meeting in Nairobi in November 2009, it was agreed that Arterial Network would establish a number of in-country reading groups of 3-10 participants who would meet fortnightly for two hours (or at least monthly) to read, debate and write responses to current international cultural discourses and themes. The purpose of these reading groups is to develop greater understanding of these themes, to develop responses to these from within varying African conditions and to help to build African leadership in the ongoing debates. Anyone interested in participating in – and in leading – such reading groups within their city/country, should write to florence@arterialnetwork.org by 5 February 2010, indicating which reading group theme they would like to engage with. Reading groups will be structured around the following themes: 1.The cultural dimension of development: what is its relevance today? 2.Understanding the creative industries and its importance within Africa, particularly in the light of the Nairobi Plan of Action on Cultural Industries. 3.Intellectual property rights within an African context. 4.Climate change and its impact on culture, cultural diversity and culture and development. 5.The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and its relevance to Africa. 6.Intercultural dialogue, cultural diplomacy and its meaning for Africa. 7.The Recommendation on the Rights and Status of the Artist and its applicability to African countries. 8.Culture, the arts, human rights and democracy in the African context. 9.Artists’ mobility within Africa and between Africa and other continents. Depending on the interest shown, the Secretariat – together with country representatives – will establish reading groups around these themes. Initial meetings of the group will debate a paper on the relevant theme commissioned by Arterial Network. |
| Monthly Seminars |
| It was agreed at the Arterial Network conference to establish a programme of monthly seminars around themes that would be discussed in countries around the continent. This would be both to inform the arts community and public about these themes, but also to develop responses to these and so feed into the reading groups. It is envisaged that by the end of 2010, substantial papers would have been developed on these themes that could be published by Arterial Network and represent its positions on these themes. The agreed monthly themes are: February: The cultural dimension of development and its relevance to Africa today. Country representatives will work with partners in their country to host these monthly seminars. Introductory papers on these topics will be provided by the Cultural Policy Task Group.March: Understanding the Creative Industries and its importance – if any – to Africa. April: The Nairobi Plan of Action on Cultural Industries: a civil society response. May: Climate change and its relevance to culture, cultural diversity and culture and development. June: The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions: Just another document? July: Intellectual property rights, piracy and collective ownership within an African context. August: Intercultural dialogue and cultural diplomacy. The first paper on Culture and Development is available on our website www.arterialnewtork.org. |
| Call for blogs |
| To encourage debate and writing about issues affecting arts and culture on the continent, Arterial Network will be posting a weekly blog of no more than 650 words on www.artsinafrica.com. The subjects may be about anything as determined by the writer, with the encouragement to be interesting, provocative and insightful. Participants in the cultural policy seminar offered a variety of blog topics including Religion: promoter or inhibitor of cultural diversity; shifting the tourist market from kitsch to art and Are women’s rights relevant to arts and culture? Anyone is invited to submit an article of 500-650 words on a subject of their choice, which will be posted by the Secretariat, depending on the availability of space. Please send these to Florence@arterialnetwork.org |
| Tipping Point Conference on Climate Change |
| Modelled on a similar annual event in the United Kingdom, the first Tipping Point conference on climate change and the arts where scientists and artists will meet and exchange ideas about how the arts can change public perceptions about climate change, will take place in Cape Town from 24-26 May 2010. In the light of the failure of the Copenhagen talks on climate change and the adverse current and potential impact of climate change on Africa, on development and on culture, Arterial Network has identified this as one of its core cultural policy themes. In line with our aim to develop leadership around international cultural discourse, Peter Hayes (who presented an introductory paper on this topic at the Cultural Policy Seminar in November) will represent Arterial Network at a Tipping Point conference in Brussels from 25-26 January. |
| Salzburg Global Seminar on Performing Arts in Lean Times |
| Arterial Network members will also participate in the Salzburg Global Seminar from 21-25 February on the theme Performing Arts in Lean Times: Opportunities for Reinvention. It is an ideal event to network with colleagues from around the world, to feed into international discourse, but also to learn and feed back into African conditions. |
| Connect CP registration |
| The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) has established a database of cultural policy experts from around the world. The database – www.connectcp.org – currently comprises 762 entries from 102 countries with fewer than 60 entries from Africa. Given our intention for Africans to be more actively engaged in discourses that affect us, we would strongly like to encourage those active in the cultural policy arena to register on this database. |
| II. Calls for Projects/Invitations |
| Talent Campus |
| 3rd TALENT CAMPUS DURBAN 23 - 27 July 2010 at the 31st Durban International Film Festival (22 July - 2 August 2010) The 31st Durban International Film Festival (22 July - 2 August 2010) is announcing the 3rd edition of Talent Campus Durban from 23 - 27 July 2010, an intensive 5-day programme of workshops and seminars delivered by film professionals to enhance both theoretical and practical approaches to filmmaking. The 3rd Talent Campus Durban theme Focusing on Africa: Unleashing Talent in 2010 will focus activities towards the development and strengthening of partnerships between African filmmakers. Talent Campus Durban invites filmmakers from Africa to apply to participate in these workshops and seminars, which take place in Durban, South Africa, over five days. In addition to specific activities offered by the Campus, the selected talents will have the opportunity to attend films and events at the 31st Durban International Film Festival. Deadline for application: 15 March 2010 Full Rules and Regulations can be downloaded from: www.cca.ukzn.ac.za/talentdiff2010.htm For further details: Phone: 27 (0)31 260 2506/1367 Fax: 27 (0)31 260 3074 Email: talent@ukzn.ac.za or talent.durban@gmail.com |
| Insakartists Calling for Submission 22 April to 4 May 2010 |
| 5th INSAKA INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP / INSAKARTISTS 2010 No Name Camp, Livingstone / ‘Mosi – O - Tunya City.’ Insaka International Artist Trust will be holding the 5th International Artists Workshop / Insakartists 2010 in the city of Livingstone. The workshop venue, ‘Mosi – O – Tunya City’ expresses the artistic nomenclatural desire to return the heritage of the city. It is the journey of honoring the historical interpretation of wonder of nature by local people before the arrival of foreign influence, it embodies the notion of decolonizing the spirit of the falls using artistic license and lenses, and hence the theme for Insakartists 2010 is simply, “Art, Culture and Environment.” Insakartists Trust recognizes the importance of preserving heritage significance of Zambian culture from a historical perspective packaged in modern contemporary art expression using natural and conventional materials. The Workshop will bring together 15 Zambian artists and 10 International Artists. The workshop will be held from 22nd April 2010 to 4th May 2010 and exhibition will be held on the 6th May, 2010 at the Livingstone Museum. For application details contact: The Insakartists Organizing Committee Postal Address: PO BOX 35798, LUSAKA. ZAMBIA. Email address: insakartists@gmail.com / insakartists@hotmail.com For further inquiries contact: Vincentio Phiri and Zenzele Chulu Mobile: 260 966 767 214 / 260 977 978 850 / 260 977 531 335 Telefax: 260 211 254440 DEADLINE: 15th February 2010 |
| Call for Artists: Afropixel Festival |
| In preparation for the second edition of the Afropixel Festival, dedicated to art, technology and transformation of society, Kër Thiossane (Senegal) welcomes in residence artists from Africa and the Caribbean for experimentation and creation of works in relation to the themes of the festival. Deadline for candidates: 22 February 2010. For contact and information visit: www.ker-thiossane.com |
| III Meetings and Conferences |
| The African Indigenous Knowledge Systems Summit, 10-11 March 2010, Gaborone Sun Hotel, Botswana |
| This summit seeks to cover the following topical issues: •The role of regional bodies (SADC, NEPAD, AFRICAN RENAISSANCE INSTITUTE) in promoting IK and its innovative models. •Challenges of integrating IK with other knowledge systems. •Is the SADC region ready for National IK Systems given the current political, social and economic situation? •Promoting and protecting African minority languages in Southern Africa. •How far will the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) protect the use and abuse, access and regulation of IK regionally? •School Curriculum challenges in the SADC: How far are we and what has been achieved so far? •Women, IKS and the Millennium Development Goals. •Intellectual property protection for IKS in the SADC. For more information contact Charity Bunhu Tel 27 11 781 9131, Fax 27 11 781 8817 Email: training@asmcomm.co.za |
| Second World Journalism Education Congress South Africa, 5 to 7 July 2010 |
| The second World Journalism Education Congress, titled "Journalism Education in an Age of Radical Change", seeks to provide a discussion forum on common issues and interests and a foundation for supporting the continuing development of journalism and journalism education worldwide. The event coincides with the 2010 World Cup hosted in South Africa, which offers a common focus for journalism educators to debate carbon footprints and media mega-events, the rise of new media, changing business models and copyright issues, representations of race and gender, media globalisation, etc. According to the organisers, the conference will offer opportunities to present peer reviewed research papers on journalism education issues. There will also be scheduled joint sessions with the parallel Highway Africa Conference 2010, master classes in various new media technologies, and debates and exhibitions. The second World Journalism Education Congress will give journalism educators an opportunity to:
Contact: Sibusiso Mtshali: World Journalism Education Congress, School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS), Rhodes University, South Africa, Email: s.mtshali@ru.ac.za |
The Lola Kenya Screen is an annual international audiovisual event that seeks to place production tools in the hands of children and youth for the advancement of literacy, gender equity, self-expression, and democracy in their world. The film festival comprises a production workshop, film exhibition, and an audiovisual media platform for marketing, promoting, and distributing films. Founded in October 2005, Lola Kenya Screen works to equip children and youth with the skills to understand, appreciate, and create quality audiovisual productions in particular and arts in general. The Lola Kenya Screen film festival is inviting interested international participants to submit quality films to the fifth edition of the annual event that will take place in August 2010. The festival is seeking experimental films, television series, video games, and even creatively packaged music videos tackling issues related to children, youth, and family and that provide strong role models to children and youth while speaking positively to children of diverse backgrounds. Application Information Lola Kenya Screen accepts films made by children, youth, amateurs, students, and professionals that focus on children, youth, and family. All entries submitted must be suitable for children ages 13 and under, youth aged 14-25 years, or family (25 ). Films should be submitted by April 15 2010. Contact Ogova Ondego Founding Director and Managing Trustee Lola Kenya Screen Philadelphia House, 4th Floor Tom Mboya Street/Hakati Road P. O. Box 20775-00100 GPO Nairobi Kenya Tel: 254 20 315258 / 2213318 Lola Kenya Screen website director@lolakenyascreen.org |
In the face of growing environmental and economic urgencies, issues of sustainability and resiliency are moving to the forefront of planning, policy, and programs in cities and communities of all sizes. City planning paradigms are mutating from a focus on building ‘creative cities’ to that of achieving ‘sustainable cities.’ Internationally, this shift is evident among local governments adopting sustainability goals for towns, cities, and regions; creating sustainable community plans; and implementing community projects related to ‘sustainable development.’ Yet cultural considerations, while recognized in urban and community planning contexts, are not integrated into sustainability planning in a widespread way. Where are cultural considerations in this new paradigm/framework? How might culture be incorporated and situated within sustainability planning and related initiatives? How should cultural planning adapt to this increasingly dominant paradigm and context? Potential contributors are invited to submit an article (maximum 5,000 words) by May 1, 2010 to Nancy Duxbury at duxbury@ces.uc.pt. Details: www.ces.uc.pt/cesfct/nd/CFP_Culture_and_Local_Governance.pdf |
From 27 March to 4 April, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival will be presenting the 8th year of its regular arts journalism training programme. Based on South Africa's national curriculum in specialist journalism, the workshop uses the run-up to Africa's biggest jazz festival as subject matter for its practical exercises. The information content therefore focuses on modern popular music. But the skills participants learn – reviewing, specialist interviewing, dealing with press conferences and more – are transferrable: they can be applied subsequently to reporting on any arts genre. This year, in response to many enquiries, the course will run a parallel 'train the trainers' programme. Participants at this level will experience the arts journalism course, but will have their own breakaway sessions with a dedicated facilitator, where they can unpick teaching methods, design their own programmes and teaching tools, and work out how best to conduct arts journalism training in their own newsrooms and their own national contexts. The issues, debates and people on national arts scenes – and the way they’re covered – can vary widely from country to country. This is an opportunity for senior arts journalists to work with a training programme that has a successful track record to develop their own country-appropriate training strategies. Full details of how to apply for both this year's CTIJF Arts Journalism workshop and its parallel train-the-trainers component will be posted at www.capetownjazzfest.com during the first week in February 2010. For more information contact Gwen Ansell :sisgwen@iafrica.com |
