India, South Africa sign programme of cultural cooperation

New Delhi, Aug 20 : Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni and her South African counterpart Pallo Jordan recently signed the programme of cooperation in the fields of arts and culture.

The signing was held during Soni's recent visit to South Africa at the invitation of Jordan to attend the centenary celebrations of historic protest march led by Mahatma Gandhi.

During her four-day visit, Soni discussed bilateral cooperation as well as trilateral cooperation under IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) relating to arts and culture with Jordan.

The programme of cooperation (2008-2010) will strengthen active cooperation and deepen cultural relations between the two countries through time bound, action oriented activities in diverse fields such as handicrafts, literature, music, dance and films.

The programme will also facilitate establishment of contacts and cooperation between associations, institutions and individuals in the field of music, theatre, library, museum, performing arts and creative industries on governmental and non-governmental levels.

It will also help in exchange of handicrafts exhibition for a period of seven to ten days in each other's country, exchange of skills in design, design related activities, training in intellectual property in the design industry, collaboration and exchanges in the areas of design, education and research, engaging select institutions from both the countries in design projects, exchange of faculty members and experts including design policy experts and academics in the field of design, and exchange in the field of performing arts.

The programme will further encourage the study of literature of each other's country by exchange of books, translation of literary works, exchange of experts such as writers, policy experts, creative writing instructors, literary critics etc. and establishing writers' residences.

It will also help to promote mutual film weeks, presentation of new films, exchange of documentaries and other films of mutual interest.

ANI