The African Creative Economies Conference is an annual project of the Arterial Network, a civil society network of artists, cultural activists, enterprises, NGOs and others active in the African creative sector.
Co-hosted by Arterial Network and the Associations Racines/ Arterial Network Morocco, the ACEC kicked off with an exclusive presentation and Q&A session with the Moroccan Minister of Culture, Amine Sbihi, one of the official partners of the conference.
The Minister reminded the audience of the crucial contribution culture plays in human development, in creating jobs and sustaining wealth. “Africa, in spite of its cultural richness and diversity, has failed in integrating culture in its overall political programmes. An event like the ACEC sets a dynamic and unprecedented example for the entire sector of Africa.”
Arterial Network Chairperson Aadel Essaadaani has explained the goals of this year’s ACEC in this way, “Africa has to generate its own images and ensure its intrinsic development by professionalizing its cultural actors and by preserving its heritage. This will be achieved by the logic and strategy of the ‘network’ and through a constructive cooperation with Africa’s cultural and economic partners.”