SHAREHOLDER COMPACTS
Yesterday, Monday, 12 May the Minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie hosted the Ministerial Signing of Shareholder Compacts with DSAC Public Entities in Cape Town where he also addressed stakeholders about prioritising South Africans and South African artists above all. Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux and its Council Chairperson Zak Gordon signed the compact as custodians of the cultural institution.
The shareholder compact speaks to our Annual Performance Plan (APP). It is developed for every financial year. For the period 2025/2026 it was conceptualised in the wake of a projected positive economic forecast, albeit it miniscule. Having slowly emerged not just from the devastating economic impact due to factors such as sluggish investment, the tail-end effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and others, South Africa remains limping. Consequentially it does impact on the achievements of core targets for Artscape as the slow economic recovery will have minimal residual incremental impact for us.
Due diligence was applied by the Artscape Executive Committee in consultation with its previous Council throughout the development of the 2025/2026 APP to align it to the planning framework of government, as well as the 5-year medium term strategic framework (MTSF).
We thus remain committed to increased transparency and accountability through enhanced reporting. Together with Council we are steadfast in the quest to foster a culture of good governance, ethics and standards within Artscape.
The Annual Performance Plan for the period 2025/2026 was presented earlier this year to Minister for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton Mckenzie.
NASHEED COMPETITION
The Fusion Inyameko Foundation’s 11th Annual Primary School Nasheed Competition this past weekend was a true celebration of talent and unity.
At this year’s iteration Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux paid a special in memoriam tribute to Taj Akleker alongside his son Yaseen. Akleker who has a long history with Artscape was a remarkable academic who left an indelible mark on the community.
Le Roux honoured Akleker for his legacy of compassion for others, his service to the community and his selflessness. His input was pivotal on the Muslim Faith as part the Cultural Institution’s interfaith journey towards its ethos as a “home for all”. Of special note was his input to the salah room at Artscape for Islamic staff as well as stakeholders who need space for prayers and devotion. To note was that Akleker equally assisted Artscape as the only institution that started the Discover Islam while he introduced Nasheed to Artscape. Akleker was posthumously honoured with the Legacy Award of Peace and Compassion at the event.
The production saw 10 incredible girls school groups filling the air with powerful nasheeds and heartfelt harmony on stage.
The audience was captivated by the beautiful voices, and those at home experienced the magic too, with the event broadcast live on Hilaal TV.
The Ileglaasi Nieyah Primary School was crowned first place winners of the 11th iteration of this one-of-a-kind event in the Western Cape. Herewith a link to a snippet of the event.
The Islamic Nasheed Competition aims to create a vibrant and engaging environment where young artists can showcase their talents in a manner that aligns with Islamic principles. Nasheed, a form of vocal music that typically features religious themes, serves as a powerful medium to convey messages of faith, love, and unity.
CARNIVAL OF ANIMALS
A festival atmosphere prevailed at Artscape on Monday, 12 May as up to 3000 learners and Youth came to see the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of Animals. For many it was their first introduction to a live orchestra, which is part of the ethos of the presentation, as well as their first time to visit the Artscape theatre complex.
The narrator Axlolile Hoza had the young ones eating out of his hands as he introduced the respective movements of this comedic musical suite. Originally written in 1886, the piece is now one of the works Saint-Saëns is best remembered for, and has provided a staple for the cello repertoire as well as inspiration for John Williams’ score to the Harry Potterfilm franchise. Young and old were entertained to the Royal March of the Lion featuring piano tremolos with dark and brooding strings; The Elephant encapsulated as satirical waltz to the duet between the double bass and the piano; and Aviary represented by the buzzing tremolos on violins and viola representing an airborne activity as the flute took to the skies in a whirlwind of notes.
Music from the movies and South African medleys of Miriam Makeba, Mango Groove and District 6 equally formed part of the repertoire, and brought the house down!
The six concerts inclusive of the three still to be staged at the Hugo Lambrechts music Centre are funded by the City of Cape Town and supported by the Western Cape Education Department.
What a fantastic experience for the kids!
KRISMIS VAN MAP JACOBS
Ter viering van Afrikaans se honderdste amptelike bestaansjaar op 8 Mei, bring ons Krismis van Map Jacobs van Adam Small — die Graad 12-voorgeskrewe werk — op die planke by Artscape vir die volgende twee weke.
’n Gevreesde bendeleier word ná sewe jaar op parool uit die tronk vrygelaat. Almal wonder of Map verander het, of hy steeds die ou Map is. Die drama speel af teen die agtergrond van die gedwonge verskuiwings uit die Kaap na die Vlakte. Dit werp lig op die invloed van sosiale en maatskaplike euwels op die gemeenskap en bied ’n kykie op die leefwyse van die ontworteldes — hul lief en leed, en hul desperate hunkering na ’n beter bestaan.
Krismis van Map Jacobs spreek sosiale kwessies soos werkloosheid en armoede aan — temas wat vandag nog steeds relevant is — asook die soeke na identiteit en vergifnis. Die drama fokus ook op die letsels wat apartheid op die Kaapse bruin gemeenskap gelaat het.
