Browsing by Author "Mavhungu, Johanna"

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Cultural policy and cultural industries discourse and the framing of film industry policies and strategies
(2014-10-22) Mavhungu, Johanna
Cultural policy in South Africa is critical in shaping government priorities for supporting the cultural industries. Since 1994 cultural policy has been informed by democratic principles of redress, accountability, freedom of expression, access and inclusiveness – diversity and multiplicity as well as economic development articulated in the cultural industries strategy. The research examines the discourse of cultural industries and the framing of the film industry by reviewing both cultural industries and film industry strategies and policy. The research applies Throsby’s (2010) concept of balancing between cultural and economic value in the cultural industries. The value of the film industry in South Africa is measured using indicators that mainly assess economic growth within the value chain. The important value measured emphasises the number of films produced and box office returns versus the attainment of the principles of the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage (1996) as mentioned, therefore, what is neglected when we don’t measure the cultural value?
So, where to (So-we-to) with audiences? An explorative inquiry into audience development strategies at Soweto Theatre in the period 2019-2023
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mogotsi, Ratanang; Mavhungu, Johanna
Theatre does not exist without an audience; it is imperative that theatre’s find new and innovative strategies that will develop audiences as the sector continues to face a drop in theatre attendance. Through a qualitative inquiry and Soweto Theatre as the case study, this research explores audience development strategies implemented at Soweto Theatre between 2019 and 2023. This period saw the biggest decline in theatre audiences across the theatre sector in South Africa and abroad due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings reveal the necessity of organisational restructuring, improved internal and external communication among the staff, clear task allocation and role management, as well as strategic management alignment in order to improve its audience development strategies. Storytelling is introduced as one of the key concepts to audience development. Storytelling integrates more process-related content into marketing initiatives such as social media which allows for audiences to get a taste of what to expect and to be a part of the storytelling process. Soweto Theatre, symbolises a catalyst for cultural democracy, fostering social cohesion and community empowerment. This research report concludes that digital platforms such as social media can be used to disseminate information, for outreach, arts education and cultural inclusion. Furthermore, nurturing young talent, and forging sustainable partnerships is pivotal in democratising the arts and cultivating a more inclusive cultural space. Collaboration among arts organisations and youth development programs across various theatres can further enrich experiences and heighten opportunities for emerging artists, contributing to the growth of audiences in South Africa's dynamic creative and cultural industries.
The Cultural Economy of China and Africa: International Summer School Proceedings
(Cultural Policy and Management The Wits School of Arts Private Bag 3 WITS 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa, 2023) Joffe, Avril; Chatikobo, Munyaradzi ; Mavhungu, Johanna; Pyper, Brett
To regulate or not to regulate South African podcasts? A qualitative study on cultural expression
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Theledi, Kamogelo Tinyiko; Mavhungu, Johanna
This research is a qualitative study that explores the grey area of podcast regulation in South Africa. Furthermore, this study assesses the role played by platform and government policies in the cultural expression of South African podcasts. The study undertakes the constructivism worldview as it looks at the podcast phenomenon through the lens of three podcasts. This research employs a qualitative multi-case study approach, and interviews are conducted with following case studies to achieve its objectives; Volume Africa, King David Studio and Nkululeko n Cultr podcasts. The aim of this research is to traverse to what extent has the influence of the non- regulation of South African podcasts had on cultural expression as well as to assess the role that government as well as platform policies play in the cultural expression of these podcasts. In the past 10 years podcasting has expanded rapidly as a popular cultural phenomenon, in particular, South African podcasts have allowed for the documenting and dissecting of cultural and societal issues (Mkhabela 2021). African podcasters use a variety of techniques and formats to showcase their shows ranging from diverse heritage, language, culture, and style. This study finds that the regulation of podcasts has become a mammoth task for South African broadcasting regulatory bodies. The study has also found that regulatory frameworks like those found in the Film and Publications Amendment Act of 2019 have become more reactive than proactive when regulating podcasts. Even though podcasts do not fall into the traditional broadcasting parameters, they still face some restrictions and regulations enforced by audiences, advertisers, and social media platforms.