The launch of Gauteng's creative industries development framework

RELATED LINKS: Art and culture CULTURE is alive in Joburg, which has a varied art sector filled with activities and things to see and do. Raed more Museums and galleries FROM Museum Africa to the Joburg Art Gallery, there is a host of places to get your culture fix in Joburg. Read more Oscar win for Tsotsi JOBURG film Tsotsi, about the redemption of a hijacker, has walked off with the golden statue for best foreign language film at the Oscars. Read more Arts, culture and heritage services THE portfolio of arts, culture and heritage is managed by three levels of government simultaneously: the national Department of Arts and Culture, the provincial department and the Johannesburg department of arts, culture and heritage services. Read more

Tsotsi, starring local actor Presley Chweneyagae, was filmed in and around Johannesburg (Photo: Tsotsi website)

Province launches creative industries framework Nearly half of South Africa's creative industries are found in Gauteng, and there is a need to enlist them in the province's growth and development strategy. March 9, 2006 By Lucky Sindane THE success of Joburg film Tsotsi at the recent Academy Awards indicates the potential of the creative industries sector. This was said by the MEC for finance and economic affairs, Paul Mashatile, during the launch on 7 March of the province's framework for the sector. "Let us make Gauteng the home for hosting major events," he added. The creative industries development framework, launched by the MEC for sports, arts, culture and recreation, Barbara Creecy, has been put in place to promote Gauteng as a creative mecca. Her department has set aside R12-million to promote enterprises and entrepreneurship, build artistic communities, develop skills – and turn Gauteng into the leading location for art and culture events. Creative industries include performing arts and dance, film and television, design, publishing, music, visual arts, crafts, multimedia, cultural heritage, ethno-tourism and cultural tourism. Creecy pointed out that this sector could make enormous contributions to tourism, urban regeneration, youth development, cultural identity and nation-building. "Research shows that 40 percent of the creative industries are located in Gauteng, which emphasises the importance of synchronising government intervention with Gauteng's growth and development strategy." The government, the private sector and community organisations needed to find ways in which to work with artists, including: setting up finance and business initiatives; finding tourism links; training; caring for artists at the end of their careers; and investing in live performance circuits. Joburg's Oscar-winning movie, Tsotsi, tells the story of a township thug, or tsotsi, who is confronted with the depravity of his life while caring for a baby he found in the backseat of a car he hijacked. It was filmed in and around Johannesburg, mainly in the sprawling township of Soweto. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za