This Division was created under the new National Cultural Commission Structure that was approved in 2001 and is responsible for co-coordinating and facilitating the cultural activities in-line with the Commission's objectives in the areas of Policy, Planning and Research.

The Commission having faced with continued financial constraints, this Division has managed to carry-out some of its planned activities for 2006 and to implement most of its planned activities for this year.

Summary of Planned Work Program 2003 - 2007

CORPORATE PLAN
The National Cultural Commission Board in principle approved the Commission's Draft Five year Cultural Development Plan (2002 - 2007) in 2002. The Commission is expected to review this plan this year and finalise it for publication and launching.
From this year onwards, National Cultural Commission will submit consolidated budget submission based on the objectives set out in its plan which is aimed at achieving National Government's Policy Directives.
Most of National Cultural Commission's annual work programmes for now and onwards is centered mostly on its Cultural Development Plan.
This is done to comply with National Government Objectives in order to achieve results at the end of every financial year.
The Corporate Plan is a key element of the Commission's ongoing planning process which integrates review, assessment, performance, monitoring feedback and necessary adjustment. Monitoring and annual review of the Corporate Plan is the Primary responsibility of the Director - Policy, Planning and Research. Directors at all levels within the Commission will be accountable to achieve agreed targets and report annually on progress.
Annual reviews of the Corporate Plan will reflect quantified input from all Divisions and Institutions of the Commission. The Commission will report against the Corporate Plan to the Minister and a performance summary will be included in the Commission's Annual Report.

WORK PROGRAMMES
The National Cultural Commission over the years have faced with continued financial constraints but have managed to achieve most of its annual work programmes.

The Commission's planned work programmes are;-
Kokoda Trail Development Project
This is an ongoing programme co-ordinated by the Commission that started from a Memorandum of Understanding singed between the then Prime Ministers of Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1993 to develop infrastructural projects along the Kokoda Trail in memory of those Australians and Papua New Guineans who lost their lives in the area during the Second World War and to bring lasting benefits to the Koiari and Biagge people.
This project has been in the Public Investment Program (PIP) cycle since 1995. The Policy, Planning and Research Division are involved in coordinating this project.

National Workshop - Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture
The National Cultural Commission is organising Regional Workshops on the Model Law on Traditional Knowledge and Expression of Culture. These workshops are coordinated by the Policy, Planning and Research Division. A similar workshop on the National level was held in 2004 at the PNG Institute of Public Administration.
Indigenous people have for a millennium played a significant role in maintaining the diversity of environment that are important to global ecologically sustainable development. Traditional knowledge is important to its holders as an integral part of their cultural heritage. This National Workshop is on how to go about protecting this knowledge.

Regional Workshops on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2002
Research: Kundu (Hand Drums)
Kundu (hand drum) is a musical instrument widely used in Papua New Guinea. Only among a few communities in the country that the use of this instrument is absent.
The kundu or hand drums appear in all sorts of styles, being manufactured by craftsmen and the types of dances and associated songs in their respective cultures. That means, the manufacturing techniques vary from communities from which these works are produced.
Furthermore, design and decorative works applied vary and yet they reflect distinctiveness of the areas where they are produced.
Kundu culture is unique to communities which produce and use them. It is instrument which is used in the dance and songs of the people in a given community. It sustains that culture and gives meaning to its people. Therefore, research will be carried out to identify and document its existence in communities where it is produced and utilized.
Should funding allow, the Policy, Planning and Research Division will carry out this research this year.

National Dress Competition
In this age of globalisation where the World is moving towards a more homogenous culture type, Papua New Guinea needs to have a National Dress that its people will wear to distinguish them amongst the many different cultures of the world.
The National Cultural Commission under the Ministry of Culture & Tourism staged the competition in 2004.
National Cultural Policy - Review
The Commission has a draft National Cultural Policy which addresses a number of major factors pertinent to preservation, protection, development and promotion of Arts and Culture in Papua New Guinea. The Policy has been also drafted to cover other related aspects to culture and arts.
The National Cultural Commission in its efforts to execute its Policy through its planned programmes is also of the view that other institutions, both government and non-government will pursue similar programmes.
The National Cultural Commission through its Policy, Planning and Research Division will conduct a series of workshops this years to gauge views from related Governments Departments/Agencies in its efforts to review and finalise the cultural policy.
The first workshop was already conducted and another two (2) will be conducted this year before the Policy is put forward to the Board for approval.

Indonesia/Papua New Guinea Bilateral Agreement on Culture
The Joint Commission Meeting between the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Republic of Indonesia was held here in June 2003 which was well attended by Senior Officials of both countries inclusive of their Foreign Ministers.
During the Joint Commission Meeting, Working Groups were established which covered specialised areas of co-operation and one of these groups was the Working Group on Education, Culture and Tourism.
This Working Group discussed possible education and cultural exchange programmes to enable understanding of each others diverse cultures through these exchange programmes.
A working group comprising representation from Tourism Promotion Authority, National Museum and Art Gallery and National Cultural Commission are already working in the specific matters of culture and tourism as agreed between the two (2) governments.

SUMMARY OF PLANNED WORK PROGRAM 2003 - 2007
Listed below a summary of Five Year Work Program, that the National Cultural Commission will undertake and pursue from 2003 - 2007 period.

N.C.C. Board meeting Four (4)
Meetings (2003 - 2004)
Kokoda Trail Development Project - Ongoing
National Cultural & Arts Festivals - 2003 - 2004
Festivals - Mask, Bamboo & Garamut and Canoe & Kundu, Bilasim Skin,                                                                                                                               Arts & Crafts Exhibition                                                                                                                                                                                                              Workshop on Traditional Knowledge - (2004)                                                                                                                                                                   Research - Kundu (Hand Drums) (2003 - 2004)
Research: Bilasim Skin (Self Decoration) (2003-2004)
Calendar of Events (2003 - 2004)
National Seminar on Copyright Law (2003)
Cultural Extension Programmes - Ongoing
International Festivals (2004 - 2007)
Staff Development & Training Program (2003 - 2007)
National Film Studio & Office Complex
Re-habilitation /Relocation Film Archive
(2003 - 2007) Mask Script Writing (2003-2004)
Culture Centres (2003 - 2007)
The National Auditorium (2003 - 2007)
Stage Production (2004)
Children Theatre Workshop (2003)
Goroka Show and Coffee Festival (2004)
Theatre Production (2004)
Publication of Journal - Kulele (2003 - 2004)
Research Trip - Gulf, Madang, Tari and Morobe (2003 - 2004).