African Cultural Policy Network (ACPN)

A new network that will concentrate on arts and culture policy that affects Africans has been launched.  The three-month old African Cultural Policy Network (ACPN) aims to research, devise and advocate for arts, culture and heritage policies that are relevant and appropriate to varying African conditions.  

With 72 founding members from 23 African countries, the African Cultural Policy Network is already participating at an international level in providing input into the first Civil Society Report to the Intergovernmental Committee that coordinates the implementation of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. 

A new network that will concentrate on arts and culture policy that affects Africans has been launched.  The three-month old African Cultural Policy Network (ACPN) aims to research, devise and advocate for arts, culture and heritage policies that are relevant and appropriate to varying African conditions.  

With 72 founding members from 23 African countries, the African Cultural Policy Network is already participating at an international level in providing input into the first Civil Society Report to the Intergovernmental Committee that coordinates the implementation of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This Convention promotes more equitable trade in creative goods and thus far, 42 African countries have ratified the Convention.  African organisations are also the primary beneficiaries of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity that was established in terms of the Convention, with 46% of the total funding allocated thus far going to African applicants.

Full membership of ACPN is open to all individual Africans working in the creative sector on the African continent and in the Diaspora, as well as nationals from other regions who are living in Africa and working in the arts and culture arena.  Organisations, creative enterprises and other institutions may join ACPN as associate members that will entitle them to participate in all ACPN activities other than standing for elections and voting.

Founding members elected a 12-member Steering Committee which will serve an initial three-year term.  The committee comprises Mike van Graan (South Africa), Dounia Benslimane (Morocco), Carole Karemera (Rwanda), Aadel Essaadani (Morocco), Josh Nyapimbi (Zimbabwe), Ayoko Mensah (Togo/Diaspora), Christine Gitau (Kenya), Daba Sarr (Senegal), Ayodele Ganiu (Nigeria), Jean-Pierre Moudjalou (Gabon), Bongani Njalo (South Africa) and Ayeta Wangusa (Tanzania).

Racines in Morocco provides secretariat services to the African Cultural Policy Network.  

For more information, contact [email protected]