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 ANNOUNCEMENT
Artists, activists and cultural organizations from around the world will meet this year in Cape Town, South Africa for the Third Annual Conference of the INCD,
Oct 11-13 to continue building the international NGO network. We will discuss strategies to foster cultural diversity in and among nations and analyse the effects of programs
that link culture and development.
Global strategies: For the past two years, the INCD has been discussing the creation
of a new international Convention on Cultural Diversity; this year marks the next step towards its realization. The draft Convention, released in the spring of 2002, will serve
for discussion within the INCD membership. At the Cape Town meeting, delegates will finetune and adopt the draft Convention which will then be presented as the INCD's
contribution to the global dialogue among culture ministers, UNESCO and other agencies and institutions. This Convention will spearhead the international movement to provide a
legal foundation for measures that promote and protect cultural diversity.
National and local strategies: In South Africa, the INCD will begin to examine how
cultural diversity interacts with culture and development. Some questions to be examined include:
- How do we ensure that cultural diversity is not negatively impacted by development projects?
- How can we ensure that development projects fully respect and collaborate with
local cultures through enlistment of their views and aspirations, leadership and organizations?
- What can be done to enhance the capacities of the cultural industries in the developing world?
- How can diversity of artistic expression within nations be supported?
The Cape Town meeting will feature a "working group" approach during the three days to
allow for a diversity of voices from the podium and the floor.
The conference will take place October 1113, 2002, preceding the meeting of culture
ministers organized in the International Network on Cultural Policy. Delegates from both networks will take part in a working session to discuss the convention and other matters
of common concern. This continuing dialogue is a rare and valuable opportunity for collaboration between government and civil society.
We hope you will join us in South Africa for this historic meeting.
For information on the meeting and to become a member, please contact us.
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