CAPE TOWN (17 January 2018) – The #cocreateDESIGN FESTIVAL is a new initiative of The Netherlands Consulate General which aims to celebrate and examine the power of design to tackle current socio-economic and environmental challenges within an African context. In collaboration with The Craft and Design Institute and Future Cape Town , the first edition of the initiative will be hosted under the theme “Beyond the Crisis.” The festival will take place 22 – 24 February 2018 in the East City of the Cape Town CBD.
Read the Curator Statement here and Take Part.
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ADD YOUR EVENT : http://cocreatesa.nl/cocreat
edesign-festival-2018-call- for-events/
At present, our society is faced with growing inequalities and the severe pressure the planet faces under the weight of environmental stress. With the global population projected to grow by 2.2 billion people, and more than half of the population living in Africa, 60% of whom live in urban areas; how can we make cities on the continent work better now and in the future for all of its citizens?
“The author of Hope in the Dark, Rebecca Solnit mentions in her book that what we dream of is already present in the world, and this is what we have drawn inspiration from for this initiative,” stated Bonnie Horbach, Netherlands Consul General.
“In the past four years we were fortunate to be a part of multiple projects through our national campaign #cocreateSA. What I find is that the best solutions come from society at large and citizen activists who know what is required and how to make it happen. This festival celebrates what has been achieved and works towards doing more. By sharing and collaborating, we can co-create a world beyond the current challenges.”
“We are currently at a turning point in how we choose to move forward. Through this initiative, we would like to understand how we as a collective can overcome egos, outdated economic models, social divides and a cycle of no progress; to tackle the water, food and mobility challenges in South Africa and Africa,” said Rashiq Fataar, Chief Curator of the #cocreateDESIGN FESTIVAL-2018 and Director of Future Cape Town.
“This event is a call to action to the public,designers, thinkers and do-ers working at the forefrontof some of the biggest challenges of our time.”
“Design as process, design thinking, creativity and innovation are probably the most over-used and possibly misunderstood words right now; they are flavour of the decade and will become increasingly so in the context of the ‘4t h industrial revolution’, says Erica Elk, Executive Director of the Craft & Design Institute.
“Design is and always has been around us in every aspect of our lives; and we have no doubt that in many ways – maybe not all – design processes – and the creative thinkers and do-ers engaged in this very broad space – may lead us to engage with these intractable problems differently and systemically. This initiative provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share, listen, reflect, learn and inspire new, different and better ways of dealing with our societies in crisis; we are very proud partners with the Netherlands Consul General and Future Cape Town,” concluded Elk.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact Micheline Frantz at +27 78 417 2449 or email michelinefrantz@gmail.com
For more information on #cocreateDESIGN FESTIVAL-2018 contact Chantal Louw at +27 72 252 9709 or email chantal@kinshop.co.za
ABOUT #cocreateSA
#cocreateSA is a platform for South African and Dutch counterparts to exchange ideas and innovations for a sustainable future. It stimulates collaboration between South Africa and the Netherlands based on the belief that if we work together, we can make a difference and co-create solutions for local challenges. #cocreateSA is an initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa, capturing the true essence of modern foreign diplomacy: building relationships, putting the demand at the core of our discussions and focusing on long-term commitments and partnerships. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.
ABOUT CDI
From humble beginnings in 2001 in the Western Cape, today the CDI supports thousands of creative people and businesses all over South Africa. The CDI’s mission is to advance the craft and design sector by building creative and skillful people who are adept at prospering in a digital world. We believe passionately in the inherent value of creativity, design and craft because of their underlying value in society at so many levels – social, cultural and economic – and because the creative process itself builds confidence and agency. We aim to support the development of appropriately skilled, resourced and digitally proficient craft and design practitioners who are able to successfully navigate their way through a complex global environment to leverage opportunities for growth and development. For more on the CDI: www.thecdi.org.za
ABOUT RASHIQ FATAAR
Rashiq Fataar is the founder of Our Future Cities, an independent non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa which works to transform South African and African cities to become more inclusive, progressive and vibrant. Fataar works with and builds coalitions between the public, government agencies and the private sector through research, strategy development, advocacy, engagement and design processes to advocate for and realise more innovative cities, communities and spaces. As a thought leader on cities, he has been invited to contribute to conferences around the world as well as various publications. www.futurecapetown.com / @futurecapetown on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram