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

 

1. Discuss the current challenges brought upon the cultural and creative industries sectors
2. by the COVID-19 pandemic;
3. Reflect on the responses being initiated within the respective policies frameworks across the AU Member States;
4. Share best practices from Member States to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic, particularly in the field of arts, culture and heritage;

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

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

Email: CISSEM@africa-union.org CC: MartinsA@africa-union.org; MekbibA@africa-union.org

 

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:

 

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia