WHAT: Virtual Forum of the African Union Ministers Responsible for Arts, Culture, and Heritage on their Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
WHO: The Virtual Forum is organized by the department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC).
WHY: The COVID-19 pandemic had a sudden and substantial negative impact on the arts, culture and heritage sectors. The global health crisis and the uncertainly resulting from it profoundly affected organizations operations as well as cultural workers both employed and independent across the continent. Pan-African Arts, Culture and Heritage sector organizations attempted to uphold their (often publicly funded) mission to provide access to cultural heritage to the community; maintain the safety of their employees, collections, and the public; while reacting to the unexpected change in their business model with an unknown end.
In line with the forgoing, the African Union Commission, is organizing a Virtual Forum on the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the arts, culture and heritage sector, as well as to reflect on the responses being initiated within each AU Member State.
WHEN: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
TIME: 3.00–6.00 pm East Africa Time
OBJECTIVES OF THE VIRTUAL FORUM:
The main aim of this virtual meeting is to discuss urgent actions to support the arts, culture and heritage sector in Africa in line with the AU Continental Strategy in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
The specific objectives of this webinar are to:
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Discuss the current challenges brought upon the cultural and creative industries sectors
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by the COVID-19 pandemic;
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Reflect on the responses being initiated within the respective policies frameworks across the AU Member States;
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Share best practices from Member States to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic, particularly in the field of arts, culture and heritage;
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
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Pertinent recommendations are adopted and subsequent action plan is duly developed to support arts, culture and heritage sector in Africa;
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Social security schemes to curb the impact of COVID-19 for cultural workers are deliberated upon; and
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Best practices are documented and shared and possibly replicated by Member States.
PARTICIPANTS:
The meeting will gather Ministers in charge of Arts, Culture, and Heritage from
AU-Member States; Pan African Cultural Organizations; Regional Economic Communities (RECs); UN Organizations; Officials from AU Commission and relevant Departments.
The Draft Programme is attached.
Further information should be directed to:
Mrs. Cisse Mariama Mohamed
Director for Social Affairs
Media inquiries:
For further media inquiries, please contact:
1.
Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head of Information Division | Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Mobile: +251911361185 | E-mail:
yamboue@africa-union.org
2.
Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Directorate of Information and Communications (DIC) | E-mail:
GamalK@africa-union.org
For further information:
