Funds destined for community cultural groups have been redirected back to the performing arts councils. HAZEL FRIEDMAN reports on the ensuing fracas
CULTURAL war is being waged over cuts in provincial funding promised to community cultural structures by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.
The battlelines have been drawn between the Gauteng-based Arts and Culture Alliance (ACA), a loose amalgam of non-governmental cultural organisations launched to help those previously starved of state arts funding claim their slice of the funding pie, and the performing arts councils (PACs) which received massive subsidies during apartheid and have now assumed the role of evil step-sister to the ACA’s Cinderella.
Caught in the centre of the fracas is the beleaguered ministry, which has presented itself as fairy godmother to historically disadvantaged artists, yet is unable to wave its magic wand and deliver on its pledge to redress the cultural imbalances of the
Ironically, the ACA was instrumental in securing a 15 percent (R18-million) cut in the arts councils’ state subsidy of R121-million, allocated in the 1995/1996 budget. Community-based arts structures were originally allocated a pifling R4-million. But, having been promised the extra R18-million, they are now being told that the ministry has withdrawn half of that amount in order to cover “possible over-spending” by the newly-restructured
Victor Modise, Gauteng’s director of arts and culture, rationalises this sudden cutback as a contingency measure in case the restructured PACs incur debts. He says that if the money isn’t used it will be reallocated to the provinces. Director General Roger Jardine blames the cutbacks on the eight-month delay in restructuring the performing arts councils, adding that an additional R40-million had been allocated by the RDP to arts and sport. A spokesperson for the ministry insists that “everything has been done in a democratic, transparent and consultative manner”.
But Japan Mthembu, a member of the Performing Arts Workers Equity (Pawe), who, together with Tseko Tshelane, is serving as chief co-ordinator of the ACA, dismisses these explanations as “patent rubbish”.
“We don’t dispute the fact that anything legislated provincially has to be approved by central government, but we were repeatedly assured that R18-million was coming our way only to be given this bombshell without any consultation. So much for democracy and accountability.”
Mthembu points out that during apartheid, R300-million was allocated per annum to every PAC, while township cultural resources were deprived of even token support.
“Now that the PACs are overspending their slightly reduced budgets by R9-million, they are being bailed out by half the meagre sum allocated to development of arts in previously neglected sectors, by the very people who profess to be our saviours.”
Mthembu also criticises a statement recently released by the arts and culture ministry that it has given grants of R200 000 each to 10 cultural organisations — amounting to R2-million.
“First the ministry promises us R18-million, then this gets cut to R9-million which has yet to be distributed. Now it announces that it will only allocate R2-million because no more money is available fom the coffers. We aren’t even sure whether the R2-million comes out of the R9-million or not.”
But it seems that financial cutbacks will not be the only fly in the ACA ointment. In addition to pledging an overhaul of the racial hierarchy governing the arts by increasing funds to cultural NGOs, the ministry has promised to transform and actively promote local arts and culture. In July this year, the Arts and Culture Task Group (Actag) released a report proposing the abolition of VAT on books and the imposition of levies on foreign films and theatre performances to hasten the development of community art centres. Actag also recommended that a percentage of the budget be allocated for the promotion of arts and culture, as well as the introduction of tax incentives for cultural sponsors from the private sector.
But Actag’s cultural bubble has already been punctured by Finance Minister Chris Liebenberg’s rejection of most of the proposals on additional funding for arts and culture. The budget for 1995 was not increased from last year and will probably remain the same next year. Approximately 90 percent of the R226-million budgeted for the 1995/96 financial year has been allocated to existing cultural institutions including libraries, museums and public galleries, leaving a piffling 10 percent for developing community infrastructures and resources as well as promoting and sustaining a viable economy around culture.
But the ACA is determined to resist the malaise threatening the growth of community art. Officially launched at the Johannesburg Dance Factory in October this year, the alliance is a “neutral body representing the interests of cultural community organisations, regardless of their political affiliations”, according to Mthembu. Comprising 22 arts and cultural bodies operating in Gauteng, it has released a press statement condemning the ministry’s cutbacks and drafted a three-part “White Paper” detailing the need for local sponsorship of the arts.
Says Mthembu: “We are sick of culture being used as a chessboard, with government acting as the kings and queens, looking for an easy checkmate, and using NGOs as the pawns to protect the knights and bishops of the PACs.” He adds. “In fact we’re thinking of changing our status from an NGO into an NGTO — that is, a non-gravy train organisation.”
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