Hazel Friedman
CULTURAL politics in Johannesburg is deadlocked while the city’s former director of culture, Christopher Till, awaits “clarification” on his future position. And unless the situation is sorted out soon it will jeopardise funds for the rapidly approaching 1997 Biennale.
As a result, Danie Malan, who heads the Transitional Metropolitan Council (TMC) – which is spearheading Johannesburg’s transformation process has called an urgent meeting on December 6 with Till and Victor Modise to resolve the crisis. Modise is the incumbent head of Arts, Culture Facilities and Development.
The confusion arose after Till, who was Johannesburg’s king of culture from 1994 was replaced by Modise. The new culture appointment is one of 60 within the TMC and forms part of a process of radical restructuring within local government.
Modise was chosen from approximately 50 candidates applying for the job that is widely regarded as one of the most coveted and daunting in Johannesburg. In response Till lodged an official objection with the council over “procedural irregularities in appointing an outsider to the job in preference to an insider”.
Till’s case was overturned. He was subsequently offered a position as Special Projects Manager which would effectively have kept him at the helm of initiatives such as the Newtown Cultural Precinct, the annual Arts Alive Festival and the 1997 Biennale.
According to informed sources he refused the position because this would have entailed reporting to Modise. Instead, they say, he asked to be employed as a consultant answerable directly to Danie Malan, but was turned down. Since then, sources say, he has flatly refused to leave his office.
“The situation is extremely frustrating for all of us”, says one insider. “We don’t know to who we must report and important intiatives such as Africus Institute for Contemporary Art (Aica), which was established after the 1995 Biennale, as well as the 1997 Biennale, are inevitably affected.”
But Till denies there is anything “confrontational” in his behaviour. He also insists that all he wants is “clarity” on his position.
Says Till: “The problem is that the same job has two titles and there is confusion as to who does what. We are currently under negotiation as to who I report to but until there is finality on the matter it is difficult for me to comment.”
He adds: “I don’t believe the future of cultural projects should become a political football”.
Till says he has nothing personal against Modise but the latter’s appointment sets up “a different set of dynamics” which need resolution.
“My vision has been absorbed into a new situation. I believe my projects should have life whether I’m there or not. But as a council employee I still have a job to do,” says Till.
He refused to comment on whether he would be willing to report to Modise “once negotiations had been resolved”.
The conflict has been compounded by the fact that no one knows what cluster Newtown falls under. It is located within Johannesburg’s southern substucture, under the directorship of poet and playwright Maishe Maponya. But its development as a cultural precinct was Till’s initiative and it will form the nucleus for the 1997 Biennale (another Till intiative). Therefore it’s uncertain who will fund projects like the Biennale – the southern sub-structue or the TMC?
Modise is unwilling to enter the fracas. He says: “The issue is quite simple. Previously Gauteng only had one director of culture but the establishment of the TMC and the transformation process resulted in the breakdown of Johannesburg into four sub- structures – known as clusters – each with its own cultural officer. We are phasing out the old and bringing in the new in as sensitive a manner as possible for all stakeholders involved.”
He adds: “There are so many beautiful projects that can be done in Johannesburg. I desperately want this issue to be resolved so that we can get on with the job.”
At the time of going to press, Danie Malan had not responded to our inquiries.
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