During her four day visit recently Smt. Soni met with her South African counterpart and discuss bilateral cooperation as well as trilateral cooperation under IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) relating to arts and culture.  The two ministers also signed the Programme of Cooperation in the fields of arts and culture between India and South Africa.  The Programme of Cooperation (2008-2010) will further strengthen active cooperation and deepen cultural relations between the two countries through time bound, action oriented activities in diverse fields such as handicrafts, literature, music, dance and films.  The salient features of the Programme of Cooperation are as follows:-

• Facilitate establishment of contacts and cooperation between associations, institutions and individuals in the field of music, theatre, library, museum, performing arts and creative industries on governmental and non-governmental levels.
• Exchange of handicrafts exhibition for a period of 7-10 days in each other’s country.
• Exchange of skills in design, design related activities, training in intellectual property in the design industry, collaboration and exchanges in the areas of design, education and research, engaging select institutions from both the countries in design projects, exchange of faculty members and experts including design policy experts and academics in the field of design etc.
• To encourage the study of literature of each other’s country by exchange of books, translation of literary works, exchange of experts such as writers, policy experts, creative writing instructors, literary critics etc. and establishing writers’ residences.
• Exchange in the field of performing arts.
• To promote mutual film weeks, presentation of new films, exchange of documentaries and other films of mutual interest.

To view the full press release, click here.