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Nhimbe Trust director and Arterial Network country representative Joshua Nyapimbi said the focus at this event, which will be held at the Book Café, would be on giving artistes a voice and “to encourage a genuine dialogue between policy makers and practitioners”.
There will be a number of culture experts who will make presentations on different topics.
Acclaimed policy expert Steven Chifunyise will present something on the 2005 Unesco Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity, cited as the most important international protocol in culture in the last 50 years, as his starting point to look at cultural diversity.
The Unesco agreement, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory and therefore bound by its provisions, aims at giving power to diverse local cultures in the wake of global entertainment “branding” by corporate multinationals.
Theatre maestro Daves Guzha addresses artistes’ interests in regional economic integration, especially free movement of artistes and art products in the region.
Nyapimbi said Minister of Regional Integration and International Co-operation, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga would respond giving artistes an opportunity to assess and question government thinking as to how regional platforms could be harnessed towards arts development.
“As Sadc and its sister regional body Comesa move closer to the dream of regional economic integration, this session is aimed at exploring the barriers to mobility of creative industry products and services among Sadc countries,” Nyapimbi said.
He said during this session they would also explore how those barriers were at odds with the bigger picture of regional integration.
Policy advisor Herbert Chimhundu from Great Zimbabwe University investigates experiences from the African context in moves to develop meaningful strategy and policy in the creative economy in Zimbabwe alongside straight-talking Bulawayo-born writer and arts activist Virginia Phiri.
“Zimbabwean culture has global potential in cultural tourism. No longer are visitors interested solely in game excursions and tourist sites, they want to see, taste and hear local culture,” Nyapimbi said.
Respected tourism operator Emmanuel Fundira looks at partnerships between tourism and culture and asks what tourism planners are doing to position Zimbabwe as a cultural destination.
Nyapimbi said Harare and Bulawayo are cities of culture, punctuated by sculpture and crafts, arts centres, vibrant venues, restaurants, galleries, school cultural activity, and several theatres.
“Strategic festivals — Hifa, Intwasa, the Zimbabwe International Book Fair and film festivals take place. For creative economy to thrive in the city there is a need to position and enhance city-level creative economy,” he said. Nyapimbi said the symposium which takes place from 8.30am to 1pm daily was free to the public and the style was informal and participatory.
“The organisers aim for maximum artistes participation in the process of dialogue and artistes are welcome to attend and pose their needs, perspectives and questions to the experts that have been brought together,” he said.
Online Reporter