Writing Art History Since 2002

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Creative industries – poverty reduction or profit leverage?

Registration has opened for the third the 3rd Creative Economy Conference 2013 and the 4th Arterial Network Biennial Conference from 6 – 9 October 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa.African Creative Economy Conference (ACEC), which is expected to attract numerous delegates (including visitors from at least 40 African countries) to Cape Town, South Africa from 6-9 October this year. First held in Nairobi in December 2011, the conference rotates from region to region, with Cape Town being the Southern African host after the second conference was held in Dakar in November 2012.

With research revealing that Africa’s share of the global creative economy is less than 1%, the Conference aims to focus attention not only on the continent’s creative industries as economic drivers; it will also highlight their potential contribution to the eradication of poverty and the underpinning of human rights.

A case in point: The recent World Economic Forum (WEF) in Cape Town highlighted good news stories about the African continent. That Africa has six of the fastest-growing economies in the world. That a growing middle-class represents huge new markets. That nearly half of African countries have reached middle-income status according to World Bank criteria.
According to these statistics, Africa does not have a problem with economic growth. The creative industries are often seen as the economic drivers to generate the resources required for development.

But, as the Africa Progress Report 2013 presented at the WEF asserts, “…the well-being of nations is not measured by growth alone. What matters for African people is the rate at which new resource wealth reduces poverty and expands opportunity”.

Many resource-rich African countries like Chad, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo are listed at the bottom of the Human Development Index that measures literacy, life expectancy and other well-being indicators.
If the creative industries do contribute to economic growth, will they really impact positively on overall social and human development? Or will they simply feed the pockets and the interests of elite as has been the pattern with Africa’s great resource wealth?

These are the kinds of questions and themes that will be interrogated at the African Creative Economy Conference in Cape Town from 6-9 October.Sign up for the Early Bird special now and save.

To register: Visit the website www.acec2013.org.za.

Early Bird registration fees (early registration closes on 1 July 2013)
◦ Category 1: R 3,910 per delegate from Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East
◦ Category 2: R 2,850 per delegate from Central America, South America and Asia
◦ Category 3: R1947 per delegate from Africa
Normal registration fees
◦ Category 1: R 4,497 per delegate from Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East
◦ Category 2: R 3,278 per delegate from Central America, South America and Asia
◦ Category 3: R 2,239 per delegate from Africa

The registration fee includes conference information and entrance to a welcome cocktail event, with two drink vouchers, snacks and a gala concert ticket on Sunday 6 October. From Monday to Wednesday (7-9 October) the cost includes refreshments on arrival, mid-morning and afternoon tea/coffee and snacks, a light lunch, free wireless internet and access to all conference sessions. Registration also includes access to the closing party on 9 October.

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