Ministers to advocate for implementation of AU decision for Member States to allocate 1% of national budget to the arts, culture and heritage sector by 2030
Ministers to advocate for implementation of AU decision for Member States to allocate 1% of national budget to the arts, culture and heritage sector by 2030
On 25th March, the African Union Commission convened the 2nd Virtual Forum of Ministers responsible for Arts, Culture and Heritage to present, discuss and launch the concept note and roadmap of the Theme of the Year for 2021.
The forum noted that the African Union has not only included culture in all major continental development blue prints, such as the Lagos Plan of Action 1980-2000 and the African Union Agenda 2063; but also that the AU has adopted various instruments pertaining to the arts, culture and heritage sector, including the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance (2006), the Revised African Union Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries (2008); the Statute of the African Audio-Visual and Cinema Commission (2019), and the AU Model Law on the Protection of Cultural Property and Heritage (2018).
Ministers committed to continue implementing interactive and innovative measures and programmes in the arts, culture and heritage sector to ensure that cultural workers can produce cultural goods and services to curb the impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector. They also requested the AU Commission to include activities related to the youth, diaspora and innovation in the roadmap of the AU Theme of the Year for 2021, in order to unleash their potential contribution to the sector.
The forum further underlined the commitment of Member States to work closely with the African Union Commission (AUC) in the implementation of the roadmap of the Theme of the Year for 2021; to disseminate scheduled national activities and programmes related to the theme of the year to ensure wider participation by AU Member States, pan-African cultural institutions and partners; and to advocate for the implementation of the AU Summit decision which calls on Member States to allocate at least 1% of their national budget to the arts, culture and heritage sector by 2030.
The full communique @ https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20210325/2nd-virtual-forum-au-ministers-responsible-artsculture-and-heritage
Read more about the roadmap and implementation plan of the 2021 as the Year of Arts, Culture and Heritage @ https://au.int/en/documents/20210322/concept-note-2021-year-arts-curlture-and-heritage-africa