Issued by: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
Minister Ngubane today announced details on the future directions concerning the Performing Arts Councils (PAC's). He also mentioned that the process of drafting a White Paper on Arts and Culture is nearing completion, adding that recommendations specifically pertaining to the Performing Arts Councils (PAC's) should be finalised by the end of this month. To complete this process, he will be consulting with the Provincial MEC's responsible for culture, the CEO's and Chairperson of the various PAC's as well as major stakeholders.
The Minister emphasized that the chief rationale in formulating performing arts policy is to ensure that all communities and cultures have equal access and resources to participate in artistic and cultural activities. While having to address this question, attention must also be given to preserving the existing capacity. Policy formulation in this regard is therefore driven by the questions of artistic excellence and equity, as well as redress. These difficulties must be addressed within severe budgetary constraints.
In outlining more specifically what this will mean in financial terms, Minister Ngubane said that all PAC's can expect a budget cut of between 15% and 30% in the 1996/97 financial year. This will also mark the beginning of a process which will lead towards the funding of only one company for each of the expensive genres, such as opera and ballet. Money that is unlocked in this process will be redirected to other art forms through the proposed National Arts Council.
According to Dr Ngubane this will ensure that while the Country continues to offer opera and ballet, the Government will also support the myriad other performing art forms of our people.
The Ministry's proposals regarding the future of the performing arts and the PAC's will be announced at the end of February, following a meeting of the Council of Culture Ministers on 27 February.