Minister Marais’ speech at Cultural Affairs Awards Nominations launch

Good day, goeiedag, molweni nonke

It gives me great pleasure to officially launch the call for nominations for the 2016/17 Cultural Affairs Awards today.

At a time when we are faced with a climate of protests, cultural differences and negative news, the celebration of cultural achievements should become a supporting tool for mutual understanding of and respect for unique backgrounds. It is for this reason that we are excited about the 2016/17 theme, Embrace Cultural Inclusivity.

Our different societal backgrounds, beliefs, traditions, mother tongues and socio-economic status are the vital qualities that make us unique and authentic. Our identity has different meanings to various people, but we have common grounds that bind us together. Tolerance should be ‘the golden line’ in unifying us.

The build-up to this significant award ceremony and the event itself will equip nominees, guests, stakeholders and social media followers with a sense of pride in their historic, traditional and linguistic heritage. This approach will enhance a healthy public mood and encourage the building of a socially inclusive, creative, active and connected Western Cape.

The awards provide an opportunity to proudly showcase the diversity of the cultural landscapes of the Western Cape. Our culture defines our identity, even though it has different meanings to different people; it is a significant part of our heritage which has been passed down through many generations. The Western Cape would not be the same without our unique culture and that is why we celebrate it by recognising those who keep it alive.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport encourages everyone to continue to build on freedom and democracy by celebrating each other’s success in the Western Cape arts, culture, language, heritage, museums, archives, geographical names and libraries sectors. The Cultural Affairs Awards offers the people of the Western Cape the opportunity to acknowledge talent in their diverse cultural landscapes.

Nominees should have a talent for bridging diversity and nurturing tolerance so that we understand and respect our differences and embrace cultural inclusivity.  In this way we offer the people of the Western Cape the opportunity to discover and acknowledge talent in their diverse cultural landscapes.

I urge all present today, to spread the word to those in our communities to nominate in the following categories:

Arts and Culture

1.         Best Contribution to Visual Arts, including Public Arts.

2.         Best Contribution to Performing Arts

4.         Best Contribution to Literary Arts (including poetry, prose and play-writing).

5.         Best Contribution to Crafts and/ or Design.

7.         Best Contribution to the Promotion of Cultural Activities.

8.         Best Contribution by Person with Disabilities to the Arts.

Language

1.         Neville Alexander Award for the Promotion of Multilingualism.

2.         Best Project to Promote South African Sign Language or the Marginalised Indigenous Languages of the Western Cape.

3.         Best Contribution to Language Development.

Heritage

1.         Best Heritage Project.

2.         Best Heritage Impact Assessment or Heritage Report.

3.         Most Active and Objective Conservation Body, Volunteer or Municipality.

Geographical Names

Best Contribution to the Standardisation and/ or Public Awareness of Geographical Names.

Museums

1.         Best Museum in the Western Cape.

2.         Most Ground-breaking New Museum Project.

3.         Best Museum Volunteer.

4.         Best Contribution to the Preservation of Local Heritage.

Libraries

1.         Best Public Library: Children’s Services.

2.         Best Public Library: Youth Services.

3.         Best Small Public Library (1–3 staff members).

4.         Best Medium-sized Public Library (4–8 staff members).

5.         Best Large Public Library (9+ staff members).

Archives

1.         Archives Advocacy Award

2.         Most Influential Person in Records Management.

3.         Emerging Leader in Archives and Records Management.

4.         Best Contributor to Archival Heritage.

And then of course the Ministerial Special Awards:

1.         Outstanding Achievement of Women in Arts and Culture, Language, Heritage, Geographical Names, Museums, Libraries or Archives.

2.         Outstanding Achievement of Youth in Arts and Culture, Language, Heritage, Geographical Names, Museums, Libraries or Archives.

3.         Lifetime Achievement in Arts and Culture, Language, Heritage, Geographical Names, Museums, Libraries or Archives.

4.         National and International Contribution in Arts and Culture, Language, Heritage, Geographical Names, Museums, Libraries or Archives.

Nomination forms can be found on https://www.westerncape.gov.za/cas

I trust nominations will soon be flowing in because it is indeed necessary to celebrate the successes in the Arts and Cultural sectors.

You can read the speech here in Afrikaans and isiXhosa.

Media Enquiries: 

Stacy McLean
Spokesperson for Minister Anroux Marais
Email: Stacy.McLean@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 4426
Cell: 083 504 1171