Algeria / A Round Table Discussion Grouping African Cultural Institutions Opens in Algiers

 

 

 

Algeria / A Round Table Discussion Grouping African Cultural Institutions Opens in Algiers

 

 

ALGIERS, Algeria, October 20, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A Round Table discussion under the theme: “Harmonisation and Coordination of Cultural Policies, Programmes and Activities », was organised last Friday 17 October 2008, within the framework of the Second African Union Conference of Ministers of Culture scheduled for 22 – 23 October 2008 in Algiers, Algeria.

 

The Roundtable was aimed at bringing together African cultural institutions to exchange views and experiences as well as best practices; to identify the challenges and constraints in the promotion of African culture; and develop strategies for the establishment of a network of cultural institutions in Africa on the one hand, as well as a network between the African Union and the African institutions on the other hand.

 

Present at the Round Table discussion was the Algerian Ministers of Culture , Mrs. khalida Toumi, and the Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Advocate Bience Gawanas.

 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Round Table discussion, Commissioner Gawanas highlighted the objectives of the discussion, saying, the Round Table is the implementation of one of the recommendations of the First Pan-African Congress on Culture. She explained that, the objective of the discussion is to reinforce cooperation ties between the different African cultural institutions while promoting dialogue amongst them.

 

The Commissioner, however, called on the participants to develop common strategies in the domain of culture, with the view of promotion cultural identity and facilitate the integration process of the continent.

 

The Algerian Minister of Culture on her part said, Africans are prepared to face new challenges with the objective of mainstreaming African cultural identity into all sectors of the society. She said, the experience gathered over the years in this domain would empower the common African as well as build capacities aimed at setting up a methodology and Plan of Action taking into account the resources available and investing into feasible projects.

 

For two days, participants at the Round Table discussion brainstormed on the following: agenda on the activities of the African Union Commission; overview on the Africa Creativity Initiative; harmonisation and coordination of cultural events in Africa including the preparations ahead of the Second pan-African Festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE : African Union Commission (AUC)