Arusha — East African Community (EAC) has been adviced to promote art and cultural works amongst the youths in the region.

EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of productive and social sectors Jesica Eriyo said this as she addressed at the first EAC Jamafest arts and culture event held in Kigali, Rwanda last week.

She added that participants recommended that there is need to establish a regional Culture Guarantee Fund for the promotion of Arts and Culture.

There is also need for the creation of a database which promotes research, production and dissemination of artistic works and reinforces existing technical training structures.

"Partner states should also ensure that culture is included in training curricula and programs of our schools and institutions, create linkages between Art, Culture, Technology and innovation and solve youth unemployment through promoting the cultural industries," she said in the recommendations read at the closure of the events.

She said that there need to protect and promote national languages which are spoken in EAC Partner States and to urgently put in place strategies to preserve common art and cultural heritage through intellectual property rights at national and regional levels.