Come Thursday, August 26, 2021 stakeholders in the creative sector in Africa will come together to highlight the attractions for African Arts and Crafts which are becoming increasingly sought after by international collectors, auction houses and museums.
The event titled ‘Harnessing and Monetising Cultural Expression through Contemporary African Arts & Crafts’ is organized by the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX).
There will be an expert’s insights into the evolving African arts and craft sector, with particular focus on storytelling, protection of Intellectual Property Rights, global reach, distribution and access to finance.
The event will be moderated by Elana Brundyn Chief Executive Officer, Norval Foundation while the panellists at the webinar will include Egyptian jewelry designer, Azza Fahmy, founder of Azza Fahmy Jewelry; Founder and CEO of Art X Collective, Tokini Peterside; Founder Amwa Designs, Chissa Amuah; and Stephen Tio Kauma Director & Global Head of Human Resources for the African Export Import Bank, Co-Lead AFREXIMBANK Art Programme, founding member and current convener of the Contemporary Art Society of Uganda.
The panel will also feature successful creative artists and highlight experience-based views on developing policies that will promote and entrench arts and crafts education and management. In addition, representatives from Afreximbank will inform on how the sector can access financing and other resources to successfully monetise the arts and crafts ecosystem
It will also form part of a series of sessions that will take place in the build-up to the Intra-African Trade Fair, IATF 2021 in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
Some of the events lined up for IATF include CANEX Live Theatre, a daily programme that will include live music; African dance; African fashion and accessories; festival directors in music, film and fashion; authors of books that have been made into films; showcasing of African films; visual artists; social media as an entrée into the film and television industry; interactive XR and e-gaming; talent management; and much more.
CANEX Marketplace will also offer stalls for vendors in creative industries in the CANEX Exhibition, enabling sales, networking and socialising.
CANEX Summit in November 2021 will have sessions on numerous topics including leveraging AfCFTA to promote the creative and cultural industries; insights into Afrobeat and its future prospects; protecting intellectual property rights of African creatives; Africa’s response to the effects of global digital disruption; discussions on policy, financial systems, tax incentive and rebate schemes in relation to the creation of an African Film Fund; access to finance; challenges and opportunities in African fashion. It will also be showcasing Africa’s talent in film, music, fashion, arts and crafts, by hosting numerous live performances. The overarching aim of the CANEX Summit is to develop action plans for the creative industries; identify priorities and global cooperation opportunities.
CANEX Masterclasses focusing on key topics for those in the creative industries including access to funding; leveraging on African culture to boost careers which will be hosted by experts and will be taking place throughout IATF 2021
