Page 4 - OPEN BOOK FESTIVAL - March 2022

SUPPORTED BY
Message from the Department of Sport Arts & Culture
The Department of Sport Arts & Culture
has established the Books and and Publishing Directorate dedicated to to supporting developing and and promoting the the the Literary Arts sector through an an interactive programme that instils the the the culture of reading and writing in in in in in in in the the the country appealing to to people of of different ages to to to broaden the the the the appreciation of of the the the the literary works produced by the the the the sector Through this Directorate the the the the Department creates an an enabling environment for authors and publishers by supporting their different initiatives that promotes literary work Open Book Festival is is one of the the the projects that that the the the Department is is proud to to to to be supporting to to to to ensure that that more platforms are created for for the the the Books and Publishing sector to to to to exhibit their craft to to the the the the nation and inspire others within the the the the field to to do better The Department is also responding to to to the the the need to to to regulate the the the sector as recommended by the the the White Paper on on Arts Culture
and and Heritage and and recommendations emanating from the the the different available platforms including the the the research work done by the the the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) and the the Cultural Creative Industry (CCI) Master Plan Processes to ensure that the the National Book Policy is developed are underway Previously reading and and writing were associated with only the the the the elite and and those in in in in power hence they alone remained successful while the the the the rest of the the the the people remained below the the survival level being dependent on on those who are knowledgeable It is now now time to rectify the the status and develop a a a a a a a strong vibrant book sector that will will reflect the current status of a a a a a a a a a South African society This can can only be done through legislation which will will enable access to to information and and resources for for for for all Reading and and therefore books not only contribute to to the the improved quality of life but but is essential for for for for development and and the achievement of national national and and international development goals In this manner together we are moving forward to to to create even a a a a a a better platform for for for the the the the consumption of the the the the work produced by the the the the sector The Books and Publishing Directorate hosts reading reading programmes across the the the country to to to promote the the the culture of reading reading also to to to change the the the perceptions that that reading is is is is boring Plans are underway to to strengthen the the Publishing Hub which is is is is meant to to fast track support for new work that that is is is is of national interest inclusive of products written in in in our Indigenous languages 4
sport arts & culture Department:
Sport Arts and Culture
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA