PAX’09 hopes to bring artists and intellectuals from diverse racial backgrounds to discuss the threats and the opportunities of the racial divide in the context of the South African democracy.

Theme – Racial Divide
The current political situation does pose a threat to racial peace and certainly makes people lose faith in the government.
While there is a disproportionate black population that lives in terrible povert y , the number of other races that are poverty stricken is also growing.
A large number of the white population is emigrating, and even though the government's reformation process plays a definitive role, it is primarily based on the growing level of uncontrolled crime in the country.

PAX Project will establish a new strategic nation-wide delivery partnership.

The legacy for PAX Project will be a sustainable step-change in the country’s creative and cultural sectors that will resonate . This will create a legacy of quality, participation and creativity.

PAX Project will benefit diverse communities and young people by involving them in a broad range of activities, exploring art, culture and science not only as forms of recreation, learning and experimentation but also as means to bringing them together and bridging their diversity gap.

Through a focus on PAX Project, the programme aspires to encourage collaborations of excellence, innovation and risk and support the SOUTH AFRICA 2010 core values of:

• Welcoming the World
• Involving and Inspiring young people
• Generating a legacy

National Coordinator
Uthango, Cape Town (dorette@pax08.com)

Call for participation We Call for Established and up-and-coming visual and performing artists, poets, writers and scholars from Africa to join the relevant collaborative project for PAX09

PAX Project Programme Structure

PAX Project takes an innovative interdisciplinary approach to deliver 5 content le a d strands of activity: Visual and performing arts, Literature, science, society and children.

These strands will be complemented annually by PAX FESTIVAL- a nationwide celebration of diversity

In South Africa, PAX will be delivered through PAX Project a curated cultural programme led by Planet Art eXchange Ltd and Uthango TM Social Investments, a not-for-profit organization registered in South Africa.

PAX Project explores the theme of racial divide from a cross- sector perspective, collectively addressed by art, culture, science and education. It seeks to create an ambitious and inspiring art and cultural programme which builds on key national strengths to celebrate the benefits of a more inclusive multi - racial society.