That culture plays an important part in the development of society goes without saying. Yet it often seems to be left in the wake of other sectors. Who should be primarily responsible for cultural life – the state or civil society? How can we bring the business sector and the cultural sector closer together?
Following the GoDown’s 1st Creative Economy meeting in 2009, it was recognized that an exclusive meeting with business people needed to be held, to give them greater understanding of the characteristics, opportunities and challenges of the creative industries. A study of the local creative economy was therefore commissioned by the GoDown to be shared with the business community. The Swedish Ambassador generously hosted this meeting at her residence.
10 selected investors attended together with representatives from the British Council and the Alliance Francaise, who separately and in collaboration with the GoDown are interested in the development of Kenya’s creative economy. Artists from the music, visual arts and film sectors were also present, in addition to the Norwegian Ambassador, Swedish Embassy officials and representatives of Mimeta and the GoDown.
It was understood that the GoDown was inviting the business community to join in establishing an interfacing structure between business and the arts that will help to build deeper and more sustainable ties between business and arts.The meeting successfully achieved its main outcome, which was to gain the buy-in and commitment of the business representatives to continue discussions and exploration of setting up a business/arts structure beyond the meeting.
The next meeting of the group will be in September.
