Press Statement – For immediate release
Women’s Month Webinar: Roadmap to Success – Womxn in the Arts dialogue
Dates: 11, 18, 25 August 2021 at 2 pm
Johannesburg – COVID-19 and the nationwide lockdown has had a severe impact on the creative sectors and the growth of its professionals and practitioners. This impact has also stifled the transfer of knowledge and skills in the sector.
In light of this reality, and as part of Women’s Month 2021, the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) will host a Womxn-led webinar series to initiate knowledge sharing platforms between established and emerging professionals in the creative industries. The three-week webinar series will feature womxn creatives and professionals from the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
NAC Acting CEO Julie Diphofa says “this important webinar series will highlight the work of womxn in the creative industries and allow for a transfer of knowledge and skills. The platform will afford the up-and-coming arts practitioners’ access to markets to enable their projects or organisations to gain exposure on a national base with a possibility of global access.”
Zanele Kumalo, editor, entrepreneur, speaker and storyteller will facilitate every session, in conversation with four panellists from different disciplines in the arts, culture and heritage sectors. Diphofa adds, “The participants will come from a wide pool of backgrounds, with varying specialities.”
The Chair of Council, H.R.H. Princess Celenhle Dhlamini, will host the sessions by highlighting the goals of the webinar series and the importance of the exchange of knowledge between established and emerging professionals in the arts. Dhlamini expresses that “this platform will allow participants to engage each other on the challenges they face in their professional journeys, during the current pandemic and how their experiences shaped their careers.”
The webinars series will take place via the Zoom platform, and broadcast live on NAC’s Facebook page. The sessions will occur every Wednesday afternoon from 11 August until 25 August 2021 at 2 pm.
Themes:
The below themes will guide and frame the conversations:
• Theme one (11 August 2021): Sustaining a career in the arts during a global pandemic.
• Theme two (18 August 2021): Tactics for a holistic growth strategy in the arts, culture, and heritage sectors.
• Theme three (25 August 2021): Building and sustaining successful personal and business brands in the arts.
Panellists:
- Asanda Sizani
- Boitumelo Tshupa
- Charmaine Mrwebi
- Kitty Phetla
- Langelihle Day Mthembu
- Louise van der Bijl
- Dr Marlene le Roux
- Nthabiseng Malaka
- Roxanne Konco
- Teresa Kutala Firmino
- Tumi Tlhoaele
- Ursula Pule
Hashtags: #NAC #TogetherForTheArts #WomensMonth2021 #WomensDay2021 #WomenInTheArts #NACWomen
Ends…
About the NAC:
The NAC’s vision is – a vibrant, sustainable arts community that enriches lives through the free and creative expression of South Africa’s cultures / through strengthening artistic and cultural creation. Through this, we will be a catalyst for social inclusion and contribute to the evolutionary development of a unique, diverse, and inclusive South African Identity. The NAC’s Mission is to leverage energy, partnerships, and resources to develop, support, promote and advance the arts.
Website: www.nac.org.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nacsouthafrica
Address: 66 Margaret Mcingana Street, Newtown, Johannesburg.
Postal address: PO Box 500, Newtown, 2113.
For media queries, please contact Thola Phetla (NAC Marketing and Communications Manager) on thola@nac.org.za / 063 407 4116 or Gontse Mathabathe (NAC Marketing and Communications Assistant) on gontse@nac.org.za / 082 064 9936.