Strengthening the Creative Industries in Zambia - Unctad

16 PART 3. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES POLICY REVIEW
In its strategic plan, the MCDSS has included two objectives which are of particular relevance for
developing the creative industries:
Objective 3: To develop and promote viable creative/cultural industries for sustainable development.
Strategies: To develop and implement a programme to conduct periodic surveys on creative/cultural
industries; to develop and implement a programme to promote viable creative/cultural industries; and
to promote the establishment of cooperatives among cultural associations and industry.
Performance indicators: Number of viable creative/cultural industries identified annually; number of
creative/cultural industries promoted annually; number of jobs created in the creative/cultural
industries; percentage increase in the contribution by creative/cultural industries to GDP. 34
Objective 4: To preserve, protect and promote folklore and intangible heritage for cultural enrichment
and national identity.
Strategies: To facilitate and develop a comprehensive legal framework on folklore and intangible
heritage; to enforce the legal framework on folklore and intangible heritage in collaboration with law
enforcement agencies and stakeholders; to collaborate with international communities on the
legislation and enforcement of folklore and intangible heritage enacted; to develop and implement a
programme for collecting, documenting and disseminating folklore and intangible heritage to the
public for increased awareness; to develop and disseminate catalogues and calendars on local, regional
and international fairs and exhibitions.
Performance indicators: Inventory of folklore and intangible heritage likely to be established and
maintained annually; legal framework for the protection of folklore and intangible heritage expected to
be in place by 2010; reduction in the incidence of theft and piracy of folklore and intangible heritage;
number of traditional, cultural ceremonies promoted and provided annually; number of Zambian
artists participating in private and public, state/national functions annually; number of international
fairs participated in annually by local artists and creative/cultural groups. 35
Action: Objective 3 is particularly crucial for strengthening creative industries. Concrete steps to
effectively implement this objective should be put in place as soon as possible, if the required human
and financial resources are available. As regards Objective 4, encouraging links between
entrepreneurial development and folklore and heritage-related activities would be useful.
Along with the Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Arts Council is a crucial institution in the
Zambian cultural scene. The National Arts Council of Zambia is a statutory body established under
Act no. 31 of 1994 of the Laws of Zambia. It became operational in 1996. Its overall objective is to
advise the Government on policy towards visual, performing, media and literary arts in the country. Its
aim is also to encourage artistic excellence on both amateur and professional levels in the country and
to promote the arts as an integral part of the lives of people in Zambia. 36
The National Arts Council comprises nine arts associations representing performing, literary, media
and fine arts: the National Theatre Arts Association of Zambia (NATAAZ); the National Media Arts
Association (NAMA); the Zambia Folk Dance and Music Society (ZAFODAMUS); the Zambia
Women Writers’ Association (ZAWWA); the Zambia Popular Theatre Alliance (ZAPOTA); the
Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM); the Zambia Adjudicators’ Panel (ZAP); the Zambia
National Visual Arts Council (VAC); the Association of Theatre for Children and Young People in
Zambia (ASSITEJ).
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.
36 http://www.nationalartscouncil.org.zm