MGE AT COP 17

The arts, culture and heritage sector is poised to make a resounding statement about its role in creating awareness about climate change and encouraging people to save the earth.

The thrust of the programme will be to relay the key messages of the Department of Arts & Culture's new strategic direction aptly dubbed Mzansi's Golden Economy.

Its essence is to highlight and mainstream the role and contribution of the arts to the economy. But at this particular platform the slant will be coupled with the green consciousness movement within the arts, culture and heritage sector and how this has heightened awareness about climate change.

More than 25 000 delegates are expected to descend on the ICC in the City of Durban, eThekwini, for the international conference popularly known as COP17 from 28 November - 9 December 2011.

COP17 is short for the 17th Conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The DAC is part of a government-wide task team lead by the Department of International Relations & Co-o peration which is the official host on behalf of the South African Government.

Hundreds of artists from the arts, culture and heritage sector will participate in projects and programmes whose key message will be one of 'green consciousness' to lessen the effects of climate change such as natural disasters and other man-made problems.

Over the decades, natural disasters have resulted in millions of lives being lost with the destruction of infrastructure. These disasters have taken the form of earth-quakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, drought, rising sea levels and unusually hot weather conditions.

Artists have taken it upon themselves to use their talents and skills to not only give a rousing South African welcome to international delegates but to create awareness around the local sector's support for green consciousness. Hundreds of artists and other organisations in the sector have embarked on a journey of gentle and sensitive interaction with the Earth - showing that they are aware of the dangers of climate change.

The DAC's MGE strategy will provide financial and material resources for the role of the arts, culture and heritage sector to highlight, celebrate and mainstream the role of the arts in the green consciousness movement meant to save the earth.

The DAC has appointed a special task team to design the programme. Significantly, the DAC will be collaborating with its entities, including the Playhouse, the Provincial Department of Arts & Culture and various other stakeholders in the sector.

This marks an important step to provide an international platform for the popularisation of the MGE programme to a global audience.

The cultural programme is expected to be launched by the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile.