Budget Vote On Arts and Culture By Lance Greyling
2004-06-23. The Independent Democrats warmly congratulates Minister Pallo Jordan on his new appointment. We are excited by the creation of a separate ministry for Arts and Culture with the Honourable Minister at the helm. As President Mbeki said in his state of the nation address the Arts and Culture Sector has been sadly neglected over the past ten years and the Independent Democrats feel confident that the new Minister will be able to rectify this situation.
Honourable Members, during the presentations to the portfolio committee
over the budget vote a constant refrain was heard from all
stakeholders. That there is a lack of funds for all aspects of our Arts
and Culture sector. It is clear that the Arts are under funded in South
Africa and we have to find ways of increasing this so that our artists
and heritage foundations can truly express the unique diversity and
perspectives of our great nation.
This burden, however, should not only fall on the State, as we have to find ways of leveraging funds from other entities such as the private sector. The ID believes that as in sport, tax incentives should be introduced for individuals and companies who wish to sponsor the arts. We would also argue that we need to do far more to bring together leading managers and producers in the arts with art practitioners, organisations and business leaders.
While many parts of this sector are unlikely to ever be financially self-sufficient, it is clear that we need to integrate business practice and capacity to make Arts and Culture financially viable without compromising the integrity of the artists creativity. In short, we need to create "Art"preneurs in this country that will export our wonderful, unique creative talent to the rest of the world.
The Independent Democrats believe fundamentally that the people appointed to the various funding boards for Arts and Culture must be qualified, able and representative of the sector and must enjoy the confidence of those who are the potential beneficiaries for the arts of public funding.
Finally, the ID wants to see the establishment or development from an existing institution of a Pan-African museum that celebrates the diversity and rich history of this continent. As somebody who has travelled through 26 African countries I believe that such a museum would encourage more South African and foreign tourists to explore the richness of our beautiful continent. Parliament has already started on this exercise with its African Mapping exhibition and I believe that a joint project with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism could lead to this museum becoming a gateway to the continent.
I thank you!
This burden, however, should not only fall on the State, as we have to find ways of leveraging funds from other entities such as the private sector. The ID believes that as in sport, tax incentives should be introduced for individuals and companies who wish to sponsor the arts. We would also argue that we need to do far more to bring together leading managers and producers in the arts with art practitioners, organisations and business leaders.
While many parts of this sector are unlikely to ever be financially self-sufficient, it is clear that we need to integrate business practice and capacity to make Arts and Culture financially viable without compromising the integrity of the artists creativity. In short, we need to create "Art"preneurs in this country that will export our wonderful, unique creative talent to the rest of the world.
The Independent Democrats believe fundamentally that the people appointed to the various funding boards for Arts and Culture must be qualified, able and representative of the sector and must enjoy the confidence of those who are the potential beneficiaries for the arts of public funding.
Finally, the ID wants to see the establishment or development from an existing institution of a Pan-African museum that celebrates the diversity and rich history of this continent. As somebody who has travelled through 26 African countries I believe that such a museum would encourage more South African and foreign tourists to explore the richness of our beautiful continent. Parliament has already started on this exercise with its African Mapping exhibition and I believe that a joint project with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism could lead to this museum becoming a gateway to the continent.
I thank you!
