The City has a long track record of promoting creative agencies and events, despite the pressures of constant funding requests, balanced against service delivery needs.
Cape Town was recently named as a finalist for the World Design Capital 2014– a prestigious international accolade. The City is also integrating design in its service delivery and community projects – from the visual to the construction and engineering aspects.
Unfortunately, the City’s commitment to promoting the design industry has recently been questioned, following a misunderstanding about the City’s sponsorship of the Design Indaba and Cape Town Fashion Council (Week). Letters were sent in error stating that funding for these initiatives had been withdrawn. This is not the case. These letters have been withdrawn and the City apologises for any confusion caused and funding for these events is currently being sourced in terms of the City’s events strategy.
The City has an events strategy in place, based on key sectors such as the creative industries. The Design Indaba is a key pillar of this strategy. To demonstrate the City’s commitment to this crucial portfolio, a dedicated Mayoral Committee position and Portfolio Committee have been established. The Events, Tourism and Marketing Portfolio Committee was established in July 2011. This Committee’s priority, amongst others, is to review the portfolio of events in order to bring them in line with the City’s mandate. The support framework for Cape Town’s cornerstone events will be finalised in the next two months. Funding for all strategic partner events will be reviewed in accordance with this strategy. Funding will be made available to ensure that these events are successful.
In addition to our support for cornerstone events, the City of Cape Town is in the process of submitting a bid to host the Loerie Awards for the next three-year period. Cape Town has successfully hosted the Loerie Awards for the past three years, and looks forward to supporting it in the future. The City’s bid has the support of other partners to host not only the awards ceremonies, but other related events as well. The City will also put forward proposals to promote the creative industry’s business side and to foster talent and opportunities.
“The City recognises that the design and events industries in Cape Town are crucial not only to our future economic growth, but to fostering and promoting local talent. We therefore remain committed to supporting these industries at every possible opportunity,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Councillor Grant Pascoe.
