2010 breakthrough for SA artists
2010-04-14 14:02
Artists and world soccer governing body Fifa seem to have resolved
the impasse related to the 2010 Fifa World Cup Kick-Off Celebration
Concert.
After a two-day meeting between the Local Organising Committee
(LOC), Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA) and the Ministry of Arts
and Culture, an agreement has been reached that will allow more local artists in
the concert lineup.
Since Fifa announced the concert on March 17, the CWUSA has been
waging an intensive campaign to include more local and African artists.
In a joint press statement, the parties indicated that they had
agreed that the South African Music Promoters Association (Sampa) would work
together with the Los Angeles-based company Control Room, the executive producer
for the concert.
More artists would be included in the lineup to reflect gender and
demographic concerns.
CWUSA president, Mabutho Kid Sithole said: “We have taken one small
step but we are hopeful that this dialogue will continue so that we optimise
opportunities for our sector.”
He added that CWUSA called off a planned march to the LOC’s office.
LOC CEO, Danny Jordaan, said he was “supportive of South African artists using
the tournament’s considerable platform to showcase their talents” and that it
will continue to work with CWUSA so that artists can play a part in the soccer
tournament.
- City Press