Speaker, the ANC believes that building social cohesion through the support and promotion of arts, culture and heritage activities at all levels is very important. Thus the recent support and generous donation from the European Union to the African Arts Institute is welcomed.
The funding is earmarked for leadership training programmes in the arts in all African hubs, and aims to have people in every African country with the skills to train artists in cultural policy, fundraising and marketing.
This is important as it allows for the development of effective skills to develop creative industries on the continent and to look after the interests of artists in Africa. The African Arts Institute is partnering with GoDown Arts in Kenya, Groupe 30 Afrique in Senegal, Doual'art in Cameroon, Casammoire in Morocco and the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg to promote regional and interregional and also international partnerships.
Also of significance is that this is an African project, undertaken by Africans for Africans, and it reinforces local ownership and building strong leadership in the African creative sector. I thank you. [Applause.]