On Wednesday, 09 June, Artscape hosted the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Hon. Ms B Dlulane, MP as well as other members of this oversight division of Parliament who took the time to gain a clear insight into the mechanisms, administrative functions and fiduciary aspects of the cultural institution as an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
The fruitful and robust engagement was indeed fortuitous to the continued well-being of the cultural institution. The engagements and in particular the questions posed by members of the committee was a clear indication that members sought the need to understand the mechanism of the institution in finer detail in order for them to obtain a clear understanding in carving the way forward. Noted by the Committee was the positive Brand image Artscape sustains in the media and among patrons. We remain eternally grateful that you as patrons have held and continue to hold our name up high. They were equally impressed by Artscape’s financial turnaround strategy as well as the adaptation to present productions via virtual and media platforms as well as the availability of the venue to all artists and artistic companies in order to sustain the Arts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is encouraging to see that the pillars of government that need to strengthen our sustainability are there to proffer the much continued support that is required in order for our patrons to continue their enjoyment of the Arts on our stages. A host of representatives of the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture were present to in order to lend support to the Institution in the event of additional clarifications the Committee sought.
The oversight visit was made even more special as it was undertaken during the year that the 50th anniversary of the building is being celebrated. We trust that as an entity we would walk the path towards the betterment of the Arts with the Committed for the next 50 years and beyond.