The extraordinary virtual conference of Culture Ministers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) members was held on Wednesday 17th June, 2020.
The conference that brought together 49 countries and 198 participants was centered on the theme; sustainability of cultural action in the face of crises (Covid-19).
During the event, different topics such as cultural challenges during Covid-19, culture in post-Covid 19, new trends in cultural tourism and digital cultural strategic project were discussed.
The expected outcomes of the conference are to launch a digital cultural strategic project and to adopt the declaration of the conference on the sustainability of cultural action in the face of Covid-19.
Speaking during the virtual meeting, Hon. Hamat N.K Bah, minister of Tourism and Culture informed the meeting that the cultural challenges linked to Covid-19 are many thus culture and arts remain the most affected, negatively, by the pandemic and there is complete culture and artistic lockdown.
He described culture and arts as crowd or audience based sectors and the oxygen for culture and arts is people, audiences, enjoying, appreciating, clapping, and dancing among others. “But due to the pandemic, cultural programming is completely at limbo. In my country, even certain cultural rituals such as naming ceremonies, congregational prayers and so on were until last week forbidden as precautionary measures against the pandemic,” he informed the meeting.
Therefore, he asked; what must we do to revive the cultural and artistic programmes in our countries, like The Gambia?
The Hon. Minister of Tourism and Culture disclosed that he personally advocate for a National Fund for Arts and Culture (NAFAC) to the tune of between D5 to 12 million progressively to cater for the arts and culture programmes and project of The Gambia. Already, he said, the legal framework for a NAFAC is in place in the NCAC Act, 2003.
“This Fund will be run by a Congress competing Gambian artists, arts administrators and National Assembly Select Committee to fund project geared towards artistic and cultural programmes of the country ranging from festivals to publication of books and historical research,” he revealed.
He called on organizations such as ICESCO for local and international collaboration and support.
During the conference, ICESCO reiterates its commitment to stand by the side of its Member States to support them and popularize their efforts and any innovative solution that would minimize the impact of the crisis or improve the future of a culture sector in distress.
About ICESCO
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is a specialized organization that operates under the aegis of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and is concerned with fields of education, science, culture and communication in Islamic countries in order to support and strengthen relations among Member States.