Issued by: Department of Arts Culture, Science and Technology
Establishing a National Arts Council (NAC) marks a fundamental shift in government's approach to managing and funding the arts in South Africa. The National Arts Council will have an arms length relationship with government and will be responsible for advising the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in its overall policy, budget and strategy. The NAC will also play a central role in allocating funds to the arts. Due to the nature and work of this council it is crucial that the council is representative of the art community and that the process of selecting candidates to sit on this council is transparent and fair.
Thirty three shortlisted candidates for the National Arts Council will be interviewed in public hearings on November 8, 9 and 11 1996 at the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg by a panel chaired by Justice Albie Sachs.
The media are invited to a press briefing on Wednesday November 6 1996 at 10h00 at Judge Albie Sachs' Chambers at the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein. At this briefing the selection procedure will be outlined and questions will be answered by Judged Albie Sachs, Deputy Chairperson Njabulo Ndebele, and DACST Director Carol Steinberg.
Joining Sachs in the interviewing of candidates will be Darryl Accone, Editor of The Star Tonight; Bongi Dhlomo-Mautioa, an artist and director of the Africus Institute for Contemporary Art; Andre Hamersma, the general manager in charge of patronage of the Standard Bank Investment Corporation; Dr Nomani Magau, a poet and a member of the Centre for Policy and information at the Development Bank of South Africa; Professor Njabulo Ndebele, vice chancellor and rector of the University of the North and Professor Marius Wiechers, rector of the University of South Africa.
The selection procedure, with a panel drawn from different sectors, will be an impeccable process, reflecting the Government's commitment to transparency and openness. The panel will select between 14 and 22 candidates, whose names will be forwarded to Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Lionel Mtshali. Nine provincial candidates' names will also be submitted by provincial MECs for culture to the Minister before a final selection is made.
The 33 candidates have been drawn from the disciplines of dance, visual arts, theatre, arts administration, music, literature and crafts. Specialists in funding and business skills have also been shortlisted.
The hearings will be opened at 14h00 on November 8 1996 by Arts, Culture, science and Technology Deputy Minister Bridgitte Mbandla who will then leave the venue, handing the process over to the independent panel.
This briefing will held on the second floor, Forum II, Braampark, 33 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein.
For further information please contact Andilxe Xaba on 012-314-6313 or fax him on 012-323-0165
5 November 1996