THE SOUTH AFRICAN
March 2010 For the full online edition go to: www.arttimes.co.za SUBSCRIBE: 1 year’s subscription to your door: R 360 - Incl. Business Art. and ArtLife E-mail: subs@arttimes.co.za
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Artist’s feature Supplement
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Dept. of Art & Culture’s R150m soccer art flop
With four months to go until the 2010 World Cup kicks off, hopes for an arts and culture programme to accompany the event are waning, with millions promised by the Department of Arts and Culture yet to materiPatrick Burnett Members of the art community are questioning why R150-million for soccer-related projects has not already been disbursed or, if there wasn’t money in the first place, why it was promised. Nearly 160 applications - to run projects that included festivals, exhibitions, public art and displays of new works - were made for the funding. Meanwhile, there is speculation that the money is being held up because of reports that a forensic audit of world cup funding is taking place at the department. But the DAC has denied that R150-million was promised in 2010 in the first place. Instead, the amount was to have been disbursed over three years, with R75-million slated for 2009/10, following on amounts of R20-million in 2007/2008 and R54-million in 2008/2009. DAC spokesperson Lisa Combrinck said: “I don’t know why people think this is an art bank.” She refused to provide details on the forensic audit, saying it was sub judice, but did state: “The perceived delay in issuing funds to 2010 World Cup related projects has nothing to do with the forensic audit.” She said due process was being followed in terms of DAC’s funding procedures and announcements would be made as soon as the process was finalized. In 2009, Minister Lulu Xingwane, noting that the world cup presented a “rare opportunity for us to showcase our rich cultural heritage through our craft, music and dance” established a 2010 task team which was responsible for evaluating the proposals. The task team was disbanded at the end of January and one task team member contacted by SA Art Times said the amount of money available had never been communicated. “I don’t know about the R150-million.” Meanwhile, another member of the task team, National Arts Council CEO Annabell Lebethe, said recommendations had been made
to Xingwane, but the task team had not been responsible for apportioning funds. She said the focus in selecting between 50 and 100 projects had been on less marginalized communities and the promotion of artistic excellence. Those who submitted proposals fear that time is running out. Market Theatre artistic director Malcolm Purkey said the lack of clarity made it difficult to plan. He said the end of February would be the cut-off time for receiving funding to put together their proposed programme, which involved showcasing 10 classic South African plays at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. “If it comes there will be a scramble and a panic,” he said. Sibikwe Art Centre artistic director Phyllis Klotz said a proposal had been submitted that would involve a partnership with Mozambique for dancers at national parks during the event, but they had not heard anything. “I have been in the NGO business for 40 years and it is getting progressively worse. One is just at a stage where one can’t even engage.” She said the centre could still do the project but would “need to know pretty soon”. Purkey said it would be “very sad” if there was no formal arts and culture programme. “We have a chance to showcase our arts and culture at the world cup. Where is the money?” Lebethe agreed that funding would have to be made available by the end of February. “If you are working backwards [from kick-off], if it doesn’t happen by the end of February then there isn’t time.”
Ndikhumbule Ngqinambi’s painting House of light, Oil on canvas. See Ndikhumbule’s profile on page 13
SA Art expression under political siege again?
“Personally, we don’t know what soccer fans want to see…but we don’t want to miss out on the opportunity. It provides the opportunity to showcase.” Combrinck said the DAC 2010 project office was processing these project applications. “We will soon announce those that have been successful. There is sufficient time for work to be done by those who will receive funds.”
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“Botha’s team was told to cease construction several weeks ago after a man in a black SUV stopped on the freeway, where the sculptures were being built from stone and steel gabions, and ordered that the work be halted – apparently because the elephants are a symbol of the IFP and Durban is an ANC city. That man was identified by the workers as John Mchunu, regional chairperson of the ANC, although Mchunu has reportedly denied this.” Read Peter Machen’s article on page 3
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