Registration opens for ACEC

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The conference should appeal to a wide audience, including creative practitioners, academics, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, brand strategists, corporate managers and art administrators.

With research revealing that Africa's share of the global creative economy is less than 1%, the conference aims to focus attention not only on the continent's creative industries as economic drivers; it will also highlight their potential contribution to the eradication of poverty and underpinning democracy and human rights.

The event takes place under the auspices of Arterial Network (a network of individuals, organisations, donors, companies and institutions engaged in the African creative and cultural sector).

"Previous ACECs have proven to be instrumental in creating markets and raising the profile of African cultural goods and services within Africa and beyond," said Korkor Amarteifio, chairperson of Arterial Network.

"We intend to make this our largest gathering to date. It will set a benchmark in terms of the quality of the input and the range of activities that will form part of the programme."

Arterial Network secretary general Peter Rorvik added: "Delegates will be well-positioned to explore the state of the creative industries within the broader political and economic context of Africa and to examine their huge potential to create jobs and help the sustainable development of the continent".

The bid for the conference was submitted by the Cape Craft & Design Institute (CCDI), as the primary implementing agency, assisted by the Conference Bureau of Wesgro, the Western Cape's investment and trade promotion agency.

CCDI executive director Erica Elk said "With the support of the City of Cape Town, planning is well under way for a forum that has the potential to help boost the growth and contribution of Africa's creative industries in a volatile global environment."

For more, go to http://acec2013.org.za