Preparations are on course for this year's edition of Culture Week whose celebrations will be held countrywide from May 19-25. Now in its 11th edition, the national launch of the week-long event will be held in Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province, on Saturday.

Running under the theme "Empowerment Through Cultural Initiatives", this year's event is aimed at promoting cultural diversity for national development.

Elvas Mari, the executive director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, said it was high time the cultural industry in Zimbabwe got recognition for the significant role it plays in key national issues.

"The Culture Week celebrations are meant to bring together diverse cultural activities for public consumption, provide a platform for the exchange of cultural ideas and views, promote cultural activities, goods and services that can be harnessed for national development," Mari said.

He added that the celebrations were also meant to use arts and culture as a tool for pushing forward the agenda of empowerment for the sustenance of Zimbabweans both at home and also those beyond the country's borders.

"The celebrations are also meant to bring the arts to the fore and allow artistes and consumers alike to view the issue of empowerment within arts and culture.

These celebrations also provide an opportunity for Zimbabweans to appreciate the employment opportunities in the arts and culture sector.

"By showcasing their products to the local communities, the week-long activities afford arts groups a marketing platform to the local, regional and international communities," Mari said.

Mari said it is through adequate utilisation of art that the country can witness a great leap in economic growth.

"We therefore urge Zimbabweans and artistes in particular to harness one key opportunity presented by the celebrations - Empowerment Through Cultural Initiatives - at their disposal.

Culture Week provides the much-needed space to foster economic growth and support the sector.

"We are convinced that the arts sector contributes financially to the nation's economy," he said.

He, however, lamented the dearth of adequate research that documents contributions that have so far been made by the arts and culture industry in Zimbabwe towards the country's Gross Domestic Product.

"However, over the years, there has been no in-depth research with the view of documenting the cultural industries' contribution to the economy.

"As such, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe is glad to note that the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency is conducting a statistical survey of cultural industries in Zimbabwe using Unesco's framework for cultural statistics as a basis.

"The landmark project titled'Measuring the Economic Contribution of Zimbabwe's Cultural Industries' is being implemented with support from Unesco's International Fund for Cultural Diversity.

"The NACZ believes that it is through the appreciation of the diversity of the arts and cultures that national, regional and international social integration are fostered through art," Mari said.

Meanwhile, various activities have been lined up across the country to mark this year's edition of the cultural fiesta.

All provinces are set to hold their respective launches, with Harare and Midlands provinces billed to hold their own launches on May 22.

Bulawayo hosts its own launch on May 21; on May 23 the launch will be in Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Masvingo provinces while Matabeleland North, Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland South will hold theirs on May 24.

The event is aimed at celebrating Unesco's World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which is commemorated annually on May 21.