Arts and Culture
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Arts and Culture OFFICIAL GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA 2017/18 Arts and Culture Official Guide to South Africa 2017/18 1 Arts and Culture The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) aims to contribute to sustainable economic development and enhance job creation by preserving, protecting and developing South African arts, culture and heritage to sustain a socially cohesive and democratic nation. The mandate of the DAC is to: • preserve, develop, protect and promote the cultural, heritage and linguistic diversity and legacy of South Africa; • lead nation-building and social cohesion through societal transformation; • enhance archives and records management structures and systems, and promote access to information; and • provide leadership to the art and culture sector so as to accelerate its transformation. Chapters 9 and 15 of the National Development Plan present a vision for South Africa that entails improved education, and a transformed and united country. This vision is expressed in terms of Outcome 1 (quality basic education) and outcome 14 (nation building and social cohesion) of government’s 2014-2019 Medium Term Strategic Framework. The work of the DAC is closely aligned with these outcomes. Over the medium term, the department plans to focus on promoting and preserving heritage infrastructure, providing community library services, positioning the cultural and creative industries to contribute to economic growth, and facilitating social cohesion and nation- building. Services rendered by the DAC Some of the services rendered by the DAC include the: 1. National Archives, which makes archival material available to the public. Although actual access to archival documentation is free of charge, the public is charged for the reproduction of material for further use, either on film or paper. Publications are also sold, and the public is charged for the transfer of data by magnetic means. 2. National Film, Video and Sound Archives which collects, preserves and provides access to audio-visual records created both by government and private bodies or individuals. Its aims are to: • preserve public and non-public audio-visual records or documents with enduringvalue, for use by the public and the State; • make such records accessible and promote their use by the public; • ensure the proper management and care of all public audio-visual records; • collect non-public audio-visual and related records with enduring value of national significance, which another institution cannot more appropriately preserve; • maintain national registers of non-public records with enduring value, and to promote cooperation and coordination between institutions having custody of such records; and • promote the preservation and use of our national archival heritage. 3. Bureau for Heraldry, which registers the heraldic representations, names, special names and uniforms of individuals, associations and institutions. It also renders advice on heraldicand related matters and provides financial assistance to institutions, boards, committees orother public bodies or persons in order to promote the functional objectives of the Bureauof Heraldry. 4. National Language Service, which provides a translating and editing service to all government departments. It also provides policy development support relating to official language development, particularly related to the Use of Official Languages Act of 2012. Promoting and preserving heritage infrastructure The DAC is developing the infrastructure of heritage sites in all nine provinces to ensure that the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route (RLHR) tells the South African story, thereby Official Guide to South Africa 2017/18 2 Arts and Culture increasing the potential of attracting economic development and tourism. The liberation heritage route honours those who dedicated their lives to the struggle for liberation in South Africa. The route is expected to comprise a number of sites that express the key aspects of the South African resistance and liberation experience. Some of the sites include the house of Charlotte Maxeke in Gauteng; the site of the Lowveld Massacre in Mpumalanga; Turfloop Campus in Limpopo; the Women Prison in Kroonstad, Free State; Mama Getrude Mpekwa Site in North West; the Sarah Baartman Heritage Site in the Eastern Cape, sites associated with the Mandela Route in the Western Cape; the site of the Mayibuye Uprising in the Northern Cape and the Matiwane Museum in KwaZulu-Natal. The department, through the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), has rehabilitated and refurbished the graves of Struggle stalwarts, including leaders of the liberation movements like Messrs Mapikela, Moroka, Sobukwe, Biko and others. Construction of the National Heroes’ Acre, which is part of the RLHR, is expected to commence in 2020/21. Community library services The community library services grant aims to transform urban and rural community library infrastructure, facilities and services, targeting previously disadvantaged communities, through a recapitalisation programme at the provincial level. Over the medium term, the department plans to procure computers and library material for provinces to ensure the consistent delivery of services to the public. It also plans to build 96 new libraries and upgrade 150 community libraries over the medium term period. In collaboration with the Department of Basic Education, the department also plans to build 70 dual library service points to support school curricula and enhance learning outcomes. Cultural and creative industries Through the Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy, the DAC aims to ensure that the arts sector contributes to inclusive economic growth, job creation, artist development and urban renewal by creating employment opportunities in the arts, culture and heritage sector, thereby stimulating the broader economy. The strategy involves activities such as arts festivals, touring ventures, public art projects, and engagement in the cultural and creative industries, through which the department can create employment. Facilitating nation-building and social cohesion Community conversations provide a space for people from diverse backgrounds to find levers for social cohesion within their communities towards bridging divisions. Over the medium term, the department plans to host community conversations to provide a platform for individuals and organisations to discuss their perceived differences, and form a common understanding of what it means to be South African. The National Social Cohesion Summit, which takes place every five years, aims to gauge progress made in achieving the resolutions adopted at the previous summit. It provides an opportunity for government, business, labour, youth formations, the media and civil-society organisations to work together to address social issues. The DAC has implemented programmes to showcase the talents of people with disabilities. The programmes include the Zwakala Awards, designed to recognise the abilities of children with hearing disability. The event serves as a tool to create awareness of the silent minority that is cut off from the hearing world due to prejudice, and lack of tolerance and understanding. Official Guide to South Africa 2017/18 3 Arts and Culture New names of towns The standardisation of geographical names is a process driven by the public and municipalities. It culminates in the Minister of Arts and Culture approving or rejecting a recommendation for a name change from the SAGNC. The SAGNC Act of 1998 does not provide for the Minister and the SAGNC to directly initiate name changes. The names of towns that have been changed in the post-democratic dispensation and in more recent years include the following: • Limpopo: Bela-Bela (formerly Warmbaths); Lephalale (Ellisras); Modimolle (Nylstroom); Mokopane (Potgietersrus); Musina (Messina); Polokwane (Pietersburg); Senwabarana (Bochum); Mogwadi (Dendron); Morebeng (Soekmekaar); Modjadjiskloof (Duiwelskloof) and Mookgophong (Naboomspruit). • Mpumalanga: eMalahleni (Witbank); eManzana (Badplaas); KwaDukuza (Stanger); Mashishing (Lydenburg); Makhazeni (Belfast); Emgwenya (Waterval Boven); eNtokozweni (Machadodorp); Mbombela; (Nelspruit); eMkhondo (Piet Retief) and Thuli Fakude (Leandra). • Free State: Mamafubedu (Petrus Steyn), Hlohlolwane (Clocolan) and Intabazwe (Harrismith). • Eastern Cape: James Calata (Jamestown); Maletswai (Aliwal North); Cacadu (Lady Frere); Komani (Queenstown); Khowa (Elliot); KwaBhaca (Mount Frere); MaXesibeni (Mount Ayliff); Dikeni (Alice) and Makhanda (Grahamstown). • KwaZulu-Natal: eMthonjaneni (Melmoth). • Gauteng: Sophiatown (Triomf). • Western Cape: Bo-Kaap (Schotchekloof). Cultural Development National Art Bank (NAB) The NAB, which was launched in December 2017, at the Oliewenhuis Art Museum in Bloemfontein in the Free State, will provide the opportunity for South African artists to receive exposure locally as well as internationally. It features 54 artworks by 32 different artists from eight provinces. The main purpose of the NAB is to procure and curate South African art works and to lease the art works to government departments, its institutions and South African embassies around the world for a minimum period of two years. The NAB will further promote, support and supplement the income of contemporary South African artists. Debut Fund The Debut Fund Programme, which was launched in July 2017 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, is a partnership between the DAC and the Business Association of South Africa (BASA). It is designed