The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile announced on 5 April 2011 that he would host a national Summit to discuss a draft strategy to reposition the arts, culture and heritage sector and strengthen its impact on job creation.
Today this historic summit entitled "Mzansi's Golden Economy" gets underway in Newtown. On the opening day, topics as diverse as arts and culture as a tool for social cohesion, South Africa's global competitiveness and a sector specific strategy for cultural industries will be discussed. Commissions will explore the organization, performance and funding of the arts, culture, heritage sector.
Minister Mashatile will deliver a keynote address on the new strategy of repositioning the arts, culture and heritage sector. Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Mr Enoch Godongwana will address the Summit on the New Growth Path.
For Minister Mashatile, this is an opportunity for a turnaround strategy for the arts so that it becomes recognised as an important growth driver in the economy.
This summit occurs in the same week as Minister Mashatile announced the names of new board members of the National Film and Video Foundation as well as council members of the Nelson Mandela Museum and barely a fortnight after the inauguration of the new board of the National Arts Council.
For Minister Mashatile, "it is important that in the 17th year of our freedom, we acknowledge the importance of freedom of expression and of creativity. It is through creativity that we build a golden economy".