The Ministry and the Department of Arts and Culture welcome the appointment of and congratulate the Board of the National Library of South Africa (NLSA). Their term begins on the 1 October 2012 and ends on the 30 September 2015.
The Chairperson of the Board is Ms E R Tise, the immediate past President of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), Senior Director of Library and Information Services at Stellenbosch University.
The Members of the Board are:
Cannes, 20 May 2012: Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile and his Irish counterpart Minister Jimmy Deenihan signed a co-production treaty on Sunday, aimed at boosting the film industry in both countries. The treaty was signed at the 65th Cannes Film Festival.
Mashatile said the treaty, would bring new opportunities for those within the film sector. "We are very happy today to see that this relationship is going to grow, because culture is about people to people relations. But also whatever we do, the film industry and so on, we are also helping to grow our economies, create jobs for people and more skills for people."
Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile and Ambassador Benavides Orgaz of Spain today signed a Programme of Co-operation (POC) to strengthen bilateral relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Spain in the fields of arts and culture for the years 2012 to 2015.
The POC covers areas in the Archive, Culture and Heraldry spheres.
Department of Arts and Culture signed an agreement with Spain in February 2004 during the First Session of the South African / Spanish Annual Consultations.
This paved the way for bi-lateral cooperation between the two countries.
PRETORIA: Speaking at the signing of a cultural agreement between the Republic of South Africa and the State of Palestine, Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, said that today marks an important day as we “strengthen the bonds of friendship and solidarity between the people of Palestine and South Africa”.
He emphasised that “we are cementing people to people contact between our countries by signing an agreement on cooperation in the fields of art and culture” and that the agreement should be seen as “a practical expression of our commitment to use arts, culture and heritage to promote a better, humane and more caring world”.
CAPE TOWN: Speaking at the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture in response to public hearings on the South African Languages Bill, Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, emphasized the importance of multilingualism.
"Language is in Chapter 1 Section 6 of the Constitution which shows it's importance. Those who wrote the Constitution envisaged two primary legislation, the establishment of PANSALB to address multilingualism in society as well as legislation on the use of official languages in the provision of government services."
"Official languages must enjoy parity of esteem and must be treated equitably. This is what the Bill hopes to achieve."
The Department of Arts and Culture and the National Youth Development Agency have joined forces to support young South Africans with an ambition to excel in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Sector. On Friday, 27 January 2012, the two parities will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will signify the start of a partnership that aims to enhance the employability of youth in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Sector through the Trendsetter Initiative.
The Trendsetter Initiative is a 12 months apprenticeship and trade skills programme that has the following process cycle:
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, will open the popular Buyel’Ekhaya Annual Music Festival at the Buffalo Cricket Park Stadium in East London.
The Festival commences through showcasing developing talent from the East London area during the day. Thereafter, Zahara, Asanda Bam, Zakes Bantwini, Oliver Mutukudzi, Pu2ma, Professor and Caiphus Semenya are amongst the star musicians who will be headlining the main event.
The Department of Arts and Culture has supported this Festival as part of the Mzansi’s Golden Economy Strategy that supports Cultural Events and Touring Ventures.
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The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr. Paul Mashatile and the Board of Trustees invite media and stakeholders to the 10th meeting of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF).
The AWHF was launched in 2006 in South Africa and has since implemented a wide range of programmes and activities on the African continent directed at increasing the number and improving the state of conservation of cultural and natural World Heritage Sites. The occasion will also be used to celebrate that for the first time in UNESCO’s history, five African sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2011. The Minister of Arts and Culture will also inaugurate the new Chairperson of the AWHF Board of Trustees.
On 20 November 2010, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile will be a key-note speaker at the Ambrosetti Forum where he will speak under the theme “Culture for development in emerging countries”. Since 1975, Ambrosetti has been running a Forum called "Business strategies: the scenario for today and tomorrow" at Villa d'Este in Cernobbio in the north of Italy. The forum is usually attended by Heads of States, former Heads of States, Ministers, top representatives of European institutions, Nobel laureates and experts from around the world. The Forum facilitates discussions on issues of greatest impact on the global economy and society as a whole.
“Heartiest Congratulations to William Kentridge for being awarded this year’s prestigious Kyoto Award in the category of arts and philosophy”, said Minister Paul Mashatile, upon hearing that he received this award, comparable to the Nobel Prize, Japan’s highest private award for global achievements given out annually.
William Kentridge was given this award for his famous body of work, known as “drawings-in-motion” reflecting the history and social circumstances of South Africa. The Kyoto Foundation stated that though his work focused on South Africa, “they had acquired universality through their deep insight and profound reflections on the nature of human existence”.