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December 2012: Enabling environment
TOP STORY
Mexican city plays supporting role to Convention
Mexico is buzzing with creativity. And nowhere is this more evident than its art scene, with edgy artists mushrooming across the incredibly diverse country. Innovation and research in art are common and the economic potential is increasingly recognised with cultural industries representing today 6.7% of its GDP. If Mexico is to expand this sector, making UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions work for the country is a critical step.
Mexico’s Toluca City Hall joined forces with a network of cultural professionals under the age of 40, known as the U40. Together, they organized the country’s first-ever series of meetings to promote and debate UNESCO’s 2005 Convention. The lively events triggered an impressive array of follow-up actions around the country. Read more
IMPACT STORIES
Unlocking funding to support cultural industries in South Africa
As a non-profit company promoting arts partnerships, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) recognized that art practitioners, organizations and businesses needed better tools to support the arts. In response, BASA developed an arts sponsorship project and toolkit to enable the business community and cultural industries to develop beneficial and sustainable relationships.
For companies considering investing in the arts, the toolkit provides a step-by-step guide as well as exercises to craft a complementary relationship. Toolkit creator, Michael Goldman, explained, “it is designed to develop a company’s capabilities to plan, manage and execute more effective art sponsorships.” Read more
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Professionalizing the cultural sector
Armed conflict has devastated Chad and has long plunged this land-locked nation into cultural and artistic isolation. In an effort to help revitalize Chad’s cultural industries, the Maoundoh Culture Theatre and the International Theatre Institute organized intensive artistic training and cultural management forums. By mobilizing all cultural sectors and organizing meetings of artists, the initiative helped renew the perception of culture in Chad and professionalize the sector.
They also launched a kiosk and website to promote Chadian music. These activities have assisted scores of cultural professionals to build an artistic network, develop skills, and promote their work. Read more
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HIGHLIGHTS
13 new projects approved for funding
On 11 December, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions approved 13 new projects for the total amount of US$ 1,074,826 as part of IFCD's third funding cycle. Projects will be implemented in 12 countries mostly by non-governmental organisations. Detailed profiles of these projects will be soon uploaded on the Convention website.
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A new call for projects to be launched in 2013
Another key decision of the Committee was to issue a new call for projects in 2013. This fourth call will give special attention to projects aiming at capacity building for the introduction and development of cultural policies in developing countries. The call will be duly announced on the Convention´s website and widely disseminated through its networks worldwide. We encourage those interested project managers to stay tuned and submit their proposals.
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The IFCD equipped with an innovative fundraising strategy
The Committee adopted the fundraising and communication strategy developed during the past months by a specialized communication company. By 2018, the strategy aims to boost the number of Parties contributing regularly to the IFCD and diversify its sources of funding by engaging with like-minded corporations and private funders. The strategy's overall goals is to triple IFCD's income over a 5-year period.
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