The Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday that it is hinging hopes of saving the National Arts Festival on Pemmy Majodina’s reputation as a “keen supporter of the arts”.
“The Grahamstown Foundation‚ which is home to the annual National Arts Festival‚ is facing a financial catastrophe and its backup coffers have run dry‚” the party’s Ross Purdon said.
He said the foundation’s annual heritage grant from the Department of Arts and Culture “ceased without warning or consultation on March 30‚ 2011 when the 2010/2011 tranche was paid in arrears‚ the last grant payment being R2.8-million”.
“The reality is that if this grant is not forthcoming the Foundation will be forced to close the institution and its projects‚” Purdon said.
“This will be tragic for Grahamstown‚ the Makana Municipality and the Eastern Cape.”
He said he written to Arts and Culture MEC Majodina to approach the national minister‚ Nathi Mthethwa‚ “to urgently try and find a way forward”.
“We trust that MEC Majodina‚ who has always been a keen supporter of the arts‚ will use her powers to save our festival‚” said Purdon.
‘National Arts Festival facing a financial catastrophe’
“The Grahamstown Foundation‚ which is home to the annual National Arts Festival‚ is facing a financial catastrophe and its backup coffers have run dry‚” the party’s Ross Purdon said.
He said the foundation’s annual heritage grant from the Department of Arts and Culture “ceased without warning or consultation on March 30‚ 2011 when the 2010/2011 tranche was paid in arrears‚ the last grant payment being R2.8-million”.
“The reality is that if this grant is not forthcoming the Foundation will be forced to close the institution and its projects‚” Purdon said.
“This will be tragic for Grahamstown‚ the Makana Municipality and the Eastern Cape.”
He said he written to Arts and Culture MEC Majodina to approach the national minister‚ Nathi Mthethwa‚ “to urgently try and find a way forward”.
“We trust that MEC Majodina‚ who has always been a keen supporter of the arts‚ will use her powers to save our festival‚” said Purdon.
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