Freedom of expression and related issues are a core feature of Arterial Network’s
three-fold presence at the 36th edition of the Durban International Film Festival
(DIFF), as part of its Artwatch Africa artist rights programme. A closed three-day
workshop aimed at artists, cultural practitioners, journalists and human rights
organisations, coordinated by Arterial Network South Africa, will take place at
the festival, which runs until 26 July.
Public interest in freedom of expression has escalated dramatically since the Charlie
Hebdo killings in January. An Al-Jazeera news item reported that media coverage of
freedom of expression jumped from 2% in 2014 to over 23% in early 2015. Whilst
freedom of expression is a right widely enshrined in the constitutions of nations
across Africa, these rights are frequently not upheld. It is not just political parties or
journalists that are vulnerable constituencies, but also activists from the arts and
culture sectors; increasingly in some countries, artists that speak out on social and
political issues are subjected to harassment, censorship or even arrest.
The workshop provides an opportunity to deepen understanding of human rights,
cultural rights and artist rights, and will empower advocacy activities for the
promotion, monitoring and defence of freedom of creative expression within local
contexts. Similar Artwatch Africa workshops have taken place in Nigeria,
Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Mali, DRC, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Algeria,
Zambia, Gabon, Tanzania, Republic of Congo, Benin, Kenya, Rwanda, Ivory Coast
and Morocco during the past year.
An open-to-all session in conjunction within DIFF’s Talents programme, “Behind the
Veil – Arterial Network and ArtWatch Africa Exchange on Creativity and Censorship’,
took place on 21 July. This interactive
engagement explored censorship in Africa and included a data gathering component
aimed at understanding the nature of restrictions that inhibit artistic practice in
respective countries.
Finally, during the DIFF Awards night, an Artwatch Africa Award will be presented to
an African film that meaningfully engages with the issues of freedom of expression.
The Artwatch Africa project promotes the value of creative expression for society
and the role creativity plays in personal development, social cohesion or social
change; it recognises the transformative power of cinema and its importance in
raising awareness and conscientisation. This award celebrates activism in the arts,
and honours the courage of filmmakers and their subjects. The award is
accompanied by a R15,000 cash prize.
The Artwatch Africa Jury comprises Junaid Ahmed – award winning filmmaker;
Gcina Mhlophe – award winning author, poet, playwright, director, performer and
storyteller; Rene Alicia Smith – executive dean (acting) at the Faculty of Arts and Design at Durban University of Technology; and Peter Rorvik – secretary-general of Arterial Network.
Artwatch Africa is supported by the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights, Swedish
Postcode Lottery, Swedish Institute, HIVOS, Mimeta, Goethe Institute and Doen
Foundation.
With representation in more than 40 African countries Arterial Network is engaged
in building sustainable networks, information dissemination, training, policy
formulation, advocacy and African-centred research, all geared towards growing
and strengthening the cultural and creative sectors in Africa.
Visit the Arterial Network website
for more information.
