M&G Reporter
The National Arts Council Bill has finally been passed by parliament after drafters quietly ditched the controversial clause that could have enabled the national arts and culture department to hijack the council.
Clause 13 which was seen as a major threat to the councils independence has been replaced with a clause that says the minister of arts, culture, science and technology will hear appeals with the help of at least one independent assesor.
Previous drafts of the bill would have allowed the director general of the national arts department to have the final say.
The bill has been greeted as a breakthrough for arts funding.