Cultural diversity is important to well-being and development in the Pacific. Cultural industries (goods and services) are an important part of this wealth but in order to thrive in a modern context and contribute to formal economic growth and sustainability, producers require active government and private sector support. The partnership will lead to enhanced Pacific cultural industries in Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands, specifically: 1) Structured cultural industries with government and development partner support; 2) Regulatory frameworks for the promotion of the cultural industries in place in Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands; and 3) Improved market access for cultural producers.

The partnership consists of activities that were agreed to by the partners over a 30-month period with the financial contribution of the European Union and the assistance of the ACP Group of States. Project activities include: 1. Hosting of national strategic industry promotion workshop in each country. 2. Capacity building workshops for councils, associations and networks responsible for promotion of the cultural industries in each country, followed by one focused on fashion in which the three countries will participate. 3. Copyright awareness campaigns and enforcement workshops with law enforcement and border control officials in each country. 4. Technical assistance mission in each country for project planning purposes. 5. Entrepreneurship workshops for cultural producers in each country. 6. Scoping study in the three countries of their human resources development needs in the area of the cultural industries. 7. A trade promotion event for selected cultural producers of the three countries. The project will also include a final evaluation.

The project will build the capacity of over 300 people (public, private and NGO sectors) through workshops, training and awareness raising campaigns in different aspects of the development and marketing of cultural industries. The project will complete this through scheduled workshops on 1) national cultural industries; 2) building up arts councils and arts and culture associations and bodies, and 3) cultural intellectual property rights protection, including enforcement. Tool kits developed, disseminated and used by cultural industry practitioners in all Pacific Island countries.

The project is implemented by The Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and national government and civil society partners. All partners were involved in the design of the project and in its implementation. The project is made possible with the financial assistance of the European Union and the assistance of the ACP Group of States.

o Pacific Community (SPC) o Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat o European Union o ACP Secretariat o Fiji Department of Heritage and Arts o Fiji Arts Council o Fashion Council of Fiji o Samoa Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture o Samoa Arts Council o Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism Solomon Islands Arts Alliance