THE inaugural Ugu Annual Cultural and Creative indaba was held at the Margate community hall from March 28 to 29. Organisers from the Ugu Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) constituency, in association with the Ugu Association of Business, the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, the Department of Arts and Culture and AFVF, said the event was a huge success.
The event also marked the official opening of the Margate Art Museum’s Open Arts Exhibition that is on show until May 31.
It also brought together various stakeholders from the region’s creative industry to assess the progress of the sector as well as identify emerging issues and trends to grow the sector.
“The imbizo recognised the urgent need to have a regulatory body of cultural and creative industries in the district, to provide guidance and enforce transformation, as well as to act against any form of bad practices including racial discrimination and commercial exploitation in the cultural and creative industry.
To this end, a unanimous resolve was made to embark on specific programmes with set time frames,” said organiser
Siyakudumisa Sotsu.
The new programmes include the following:
• The establishment of Ugu cultural and creative sector councils, including a Cultural and Natural Heritage Council, Performance and Celebrations Council, Visual Arts and Crafts Council, Languages and Publishing Council, Audio-Visual and Interactive Media Council, Design, Creative and ACH Support Services Council, Indigenous Wisdom Council and Arts Education and Training Council.
• An Ugu cultural and creative sector councils conference.
• Conducting research to identify the gaps within the cultural and creative industry in the district.
• Developing a consolidated database of the cultural and creative industry within the district.
• Developing and adopting an Ugu cultural and creative charter with a five-year strategic plan.
• Developing an Ugu District quarterly cultural and creative programme where all sectors will showcase different works.
An Ugu Interim Cultural and Creative Industry General Council was elected.
It is led by Heather Gienlik as regional convener and Siya Sotsu as regional co-ordinator.
