Question NW3547 to the Minister of Arts and Culture:

Esterhuizen, Mr JA to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture:

In view of the country having a rich pool of raw talent from which to grow the arts and culture industry, but which is not nurtured from a young age, especially in rural areas, what is his position regarding the need to set up centres in rural areas where children can explore and develop their artistic talent? QUESTION NO. 3547-2015 FOR WRITTEN REPLY DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18 September 2015 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.38-2015) “Mr JA Esterhuizen (IFP) asks the Minister of Arts and Culture: In view of the country having a rich pool of raw talent from which to grow the arts and culture industry, but which is not nurtured from a young age, especially in rural areas, what is his position regarding the need to set up centres in rural areas where children can explore and develop their artistic talent? NW4212E REPLY The importance of community arts and the development and upgrading of community arts infrastructure has been recognised as a driver of social cohesion and nation building in Outcome 14: Nation Building and Social Cohesion. The community arts programme is a contributor to the Sub-Outcome: Equal Opportunities, Inclusion and Redress. Approved by Cabinet, Outcome 14 stipulates that the Department of Arts and Culture, within the 5 year Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), will build 15 new community arts centres, refurbish 80 centres and activate 500 community arts programmes by 2018/19. The focus of this work will be rural and township areas.