I propose that access to culture, heritage and creative expression is enshrined within the constitution as a right.
Endorsing access to heritage and creative expression in our national constitution would send home the message that this does not solely concern promotion initiatives by heritage institutions and non-governmental organisations. On the contrary, this would be a right which every citizen can invoke within the context of all the administrative checks and balances that the sector would nonetheless still require. This would also help in bringing access to cultural heritage and creativity at the centre of national policies, indeed beyond the sector itself, simply because it would concern a recognised citizen’s right. The message would be clear: much like health, education and other inalienable principles enshrined within our constitution, access to cultural heritage and creativity are a recognised constitutional right of fundamental importance to community identity and economic growth.