Since a career in art usually means a life of poverty, the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) aims to economically empower and liberate South African artists.
Since a career in art usually means a life of poverty, the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) aims to economically empower and liberate South African artists.
Hence the theme of this year’s annual Arts and Culture conference, which will be held on Tuesday in Johannesburg, is “Creative Currencies: accessing opportunities in an expanding marketplace”.
It will focus on commercial and trade aspects of arts and cultural in South Africa.
Gilly Hemphill, a spokesperson for the National Arts Festival, whose CEO is one of the guest speakers, said that the conference intends to “get artists out of their little area, like those in Grahamstown, and see the bigger picture, creating an artistic economy.”
Asked how local artists who don’t have the means to travel to Johannesburg can learn about what has materialized, she said that the results will be accessible through a database and that the event will be videotaped and possibly made available as podcasts.
ACT also provides funding for underprivileged artists so that can attend the conference. Artists who apply for this subsidy have to motivate how they think they’ll benefit from attending.
Queenstown born performer Dean Kriel, who will attend the conference, told Grocott’s Mail that “artists in South Africa are wrapped up in their own art. They don’t engage with their audiences and they are not practical. I’m hoping to speak to [other]South African artists to get their economic mindset.”
Speakers at the conference will address creative economy, cultural entrepreneurship and how to sell and exhibit art internationally.
Kriel said that he is particularly interested in finding out how artists can link in with the economies of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
The conference is organised by the ACT in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and will be held at the UJ Arts Centre in Johannesburg.
