The Institute of Advanced Studies is sponsoring a Visiting Fellowship for the Global Research Prtiority in International Development. Organised by Jonathan Vickery, this means a week of 7 events, exploring the GRP-ID Annual theme 'Creative Economies and Cultural Activism'.

Mike van Graan is a playwright, cultural activist, executive director and UNESCO technical advisor. He is a central figure in South Africa’s cultural sector as much as the African continent’s nascent creative economy. As a playwright he is nationally renowned; he set up one of the nation’s most prestigious cultural consultancies; he is the pioneer behind the now world-famous pan-African arts and policy organisation, The Arterial Network (AN), and is now Executive Director of the African Arts Institute (AFAI). Both the organisations are in Cape Town, and both have played a significant role in empowering black cultural agency in the post-Apartheid era. Both organisations are explicit in their commitment to the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, but are also pragmatic in working for economic development.

SEE the week's itinerary: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/research/priorities/internationaldevelopment/

SEE Culture Matters BLOG: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/theatre_s/cp/blog/