Commonwealth Foundation, South Africa’s Culture Department, and South African Coalition for Cultural Diversity Cooperate for Cultural Policy Consultation

This past May, as part of its research into issues of cultural policy and culture in development, the Commonwealth Foundation, in partnership with the South African Coalition for Cultural Diversity (SACCD) and South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), held a consultation with members from key government and civil society organizations in South Africa.

The consultation focused on three key questions:

1. How successful have South Africa’s cultural policies been so far for the different creative sectors and for development? What lessons can be learned?

2. How has the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the
Diversity of Cultural Expressions been implemented in South Africa? What
impact, if any, has the Convention had and what lessons can be learned?

3. How are the South African experience and approach to culture unique, and how
can they be shared, regionally and globally?

The final report was recently issued and is now available on the South African Coalition’s website.