2011 Course in Cultural Economics

“Value of culture: on the relationship between economics, culture and the arts”

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Do you belong to the next generation of ambitious art and cultural practitioners and managers? Do you want to make an essential contribution to the positioning of the cultural sector in your country and region? Do you feel the need to widen your understanding of the relationship between economics and culture so as to strengthen your abilities to effectively advocate for arts and culture? Do you want to get inspired by experienced scholars and your colleagues from East Africa?

If you think you belong to the movers and shakers of the cultural sector, you are herewith invited to take part in the first edition of the Course in Cultural Economics for art and cultural practitioners and managers from East Africa, to be held in Jinja in Uganda from 4th -14th April 2011. A group of twenty (20) participants will meet for an intense course of ten (10) days to acquire essential knowledge and skills in cultural economics and reflect on issues in working groups and learn from case studies and best practices in Africa and beyond.

BACKGROUND

As the world gets over with the financial and economic crises, arts and culture organizations on all continents are faced with bitter cuts in arts and cultural financing. For arts and cultural organizations to survive and continue to offer creative programs and for the cultural sector to forge ways to sustain its existence, it is necessary to think differently and act otherwise. To do so, art and cultural practitioners and managers need to grasp a better understanding of the manner in which the cultural sector operates, especially the relationship between economy and arts and culture.

In order to equip art and cultural practitioners and managers in East Africa with the necessary knowledge and skills, Bayimba Cultural Foundation established a partnership with CREARE Foundation to offer a 10-day intensive course in Cultural Economics. The course is designed for people operating in the art and cultural sector, e.g. cultural policy makers within government (agencies), representatives of advisory bodies, representatives of arts and cultural organizations, cultural entrepreneurs, representatives of funds and foundations, scholars and students researching arts and culture. Whereas the course mainly targets people operating in the art and cultural sector, it is also open to anyone else from East Africa with an interest in the subject.

CONTENT

The aim of the course is to develop participants’ understanding of economics as it applies to the world of art and culture. It will raise critical questions about the concepts of culture, value, valuation of the arts, the creative economy, and the special role that the arts have in contemporary economies. This course teaches participants how to evaluate the economic aspects of arts policy, in general but specifically in Africa. At the completion of the course, participants will better appreciate the contribution that cultural economics can (and cannot) make to the debate on the relationship between economy, culture and art. The skills acquired during this unit will include:-

• the ability to assess and apply the cultural economic perspective,
• the ability to understand the processes of valuation in the world of the arts and creative activities,
• the appreciation of the importance of the mode of financing of the arts and the role of gifts,
• the appreciation of the role of cultural entrepreneurs,
• the ability to identify new challenges to cultural policy.

PRESENTERS

The course is organised by Bayimba Cultural Foundation in conjunction with CREARE Foundation. The course will be led by Prof. Arjo Klamer, Chair of Economics of Art and Culture, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Mentors, academicians and professionals will give lectures and have face to face contacts and discussions with participants, providing them with a conceptual and practical framework. The course will take place through the cooperation of academics and professionals coming from Europe and Africa. The African partners involved in the course will put emphasis on the illustration of case studies and best practices in Africa.

REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge of English (the course will be taught in English)
Given evidence that she/he works in the art and cultural sector in East Africa
A profile (CV) with photo attached
Motivational letter for your participation in the course (showing how beneficial the course will be to his /her own organisation and/or country)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The fee for the course will be 500 USD for each participant. This fee includes accommodation (participants will be accommodated in Jinja close to the location where the course takes place), access to all course sessions, course materials, breakfast, lunches, break teas and a cultural programme. Travel expenses are on participants’ costs. Organizers will be glad to provide more information on possible support schemes.

DEADLINE AND SELECTION

If you are interested in participating in the course and you fulfill the above mentioned criteria, please fill in the application form and send it to info@bayimba.org as soon as possible but no later than 31st January, 2011. Applications are presented to a selection committee. Selected participants will receive a confirmation by the end of February 2011.