Artistic and cultural associations may unite to form an artistic and cultural movement.
An artistic movement is a collective trend or tendency in art, defined by a shared philosophy, style, or goal adopted by a group of artists over a specific period, often reflecting broader cultural shifts.
Artistic and cultural associations may be organized into the following:
- Companies:
- Unions;
- Guilds;
- Federations.
The groups referred above shall be made up of artistic and cultural associations engaged in the same activity or the same discipline.
1 - COMPANIES
A company according to the law regulating artistic and cultural organizations in Cameroon consist of at least 3 (three) duly formed artistic and cultural associations engaged in the same activity.
lt carries out its activity within the artistic and cultural movement at the council or sub-divisional level.
A company is governed by the provisions of the law, its bylaws and those of the union from which it emanates.
The company coordinates the activities of its member artistic and cultural associations. It is subject to the control of the union, guild and federation to which it is affiliated.
2- UNIONS
A union is a group of:
- 2 (two) or more companies belonging to at least 2 (two) sub-divisions of the same division engaged in the same activity,
- 4 (four} artistic and cultural associations belonging to at least 3 (three) sub divisions engaged in the same activity.
A union carry out its activity within the artistic and cultural movement at the divisional level.
The union is governed by the provisions of the law, its bylaws and those of the guild to which it is affiliated. Unions coordinate the activities of its members who are engaged in the same artistic or cultural discipline.
A union is subject to the control of the guild and federation to which it is affiliated.
A union may be recognized as serving the public interest.
3 - GUILDS
A guild consist of at least:
- 2 (two) unions engaged in the same activity and belonging to at least 2 (two) divisions of the same region;
- 4 (four) companies engaged in the same activity and belonging to at least 2 (two) divisions.
lt shall carry out its activity within the cultural movement at the regional level.
Every guild is governed by the provisions of the law, its bylaws and those of the federation to which it is affiliated.
It is subject to the control of the federation from which it emanates. A guild may be recognized as serving the public interest.
4 – FEDERATIONS
Federations are made up of guilds and they carry out their activity at the national level.
Federations coordinate the activities of their members who are engaged in the same artistic and cultural discipline.
They exercise authority over the companies, unions and guilds affiliated thereto.
Federations are governed by the provisions of the law, their bylaws and regulations, as well as those of the international artistic and cultural entities to which they are affiliated.
Affiliation to their respective international federations or entities shall be subject to approval by the Minister in charge of culture.
The organization and functioning of federations of artistic and cultural associations must comply with the provisions of the standard bylaws approved by order of the Minister in charge of culture.
The officials of federations of artistic and cultural associations are subject to the incompatibility rules provided for in Section 36 of the law (Law No. 2020/011 of 20th July 2020 regulating Artistic and Cultural Associations in Cameroon).
The duties of federation official and official of a company, union or guild affiliated to such federation shall be incompatible.
ln each art or culture sector, only one federation shall be authorized by the Minister in charge of culture to organize, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force, cultural and artistic activities aimed at supervising the artistic and cultural associations affiliated thereto.
Each federation shall be required to inform the Minister in charge of culture about the organization of national or international cultural events, as well as the terms and conditions of their organization.
The organization of international events by federations shall be subject to prior authorization by the Minister in charge of culture.
The authorization of the relevant federation shall be required for the organization by an artistic and cultural association or any natural or legal person of a cultural event involving the participation of the artistic and cultural associations affiliated thereto.
Any affiliated artistic and cultural association participating in a cultural event which has not been authorized by the federation to which it belongs shall be liable to the disciplinary sanctions provided for by the internal rules and regulations of such federation.
ln the organization of cultural events, companies, unions or guilds must conform to the guidelines and schedules adopted by the federation to which they are affiliated. Failure to comply shall entail payment of a fine fixed and collected by the federation of affiliation, in accordance with the provisions of its bylaws.