South Africa and Sweden have signed a groundbreaking R57-million cultural partnership programme to benefit arts and culture projects from both countries.

The programme is regarded as a significant step towards deepening and consolidating relations between the two countries.

It will invite a wide range of cultural institutions, non-government organisations to apply for up to three years of project grants or for one-year planning grants.

Speaking at a joint media briefing this week, South Africa's Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan and his Swedish counterpart Marita Ulvskog, said the objective was to support and stimulate projects of high quality in academic or grassroots levels.

Both ministers said the programme would encourage a network to build projects inclusive of more disadvantaged cultural institutions and play a co-operative role in the funding landscape of South Africa.

The Swedish government contributed R45-million while South Africa's Arts Culture Department contributed R12-million for the next three years.

Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Minister Jordan said it was his belief that the programme could help create an environment in which the rich and substantial contribution of artistic tradition and diverse cultural heritage could be accelerated.

"There has never been a more opportune time for Africa than now, to boldly forge new models of collaboration and to challenge our historic partners in the rest of the world to engage us as equals in creative partnerships," said Jordan.

He said South Africa's relationship with Sweden had taken many forms over the last 30 years, also acknowledging Sweden's contribution to South Africa's freedom and democracy.

"Through our cooperation we will continue to partner with each other on innovative programmes that can impact positively on the continent of Africa in line with African Union and Nepad strategies," he said.

"We are moving away from the one-directional funding of donor recipient who has traditionally been employed,” Ulvskog said.

She said Sweden shared some cultural similarities with South Africa.

"The programme will be overseen by a joint committee, run by coordinators in both countries and applications will be assessed by a peer review panel in each country before being submitted to the joint committee for recommendations," Ulvskog said.

She said proposals should be committed to education and training, cultural management, capacity building and research.

"All projects should follow human rights principles and practice, and need to demonstrate adherence to a majority of the criteria for funding," Jordan concluded. - BuaNews