The Grahamstown Foundation, which is home to multiple arts, science and education projects, is facing tough financial times but is not closing down operations.
This was affirmed by the foundation’s executive director Louisa Clayton in reaction to a statement by Democratic Alliance MPL Ross Purdon.
Purdon said the foundation faced financial catastrophe after its backup coffers ran dry, putting at risk its independent tenant, the National Arts Festival, and the foundation’s other vital national and provincial science, arts, education and tourism projects.
National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester also dismissed as inaccurate and misleading Purdon’s inference that any financial difficulties faced by the Grahamstown Foundation represented a possible catastrophe for the festival.
He said the two were wholly separate legal entities, with different funding models, mandates and governance structures and the festival was not dependent on the foundation or monument for its future sustainability.
“The festival’s business model is based upon a sustainable mix of self-generated income and funding from both public and private entities, including the national and provincial departments of arts and culture.
“This mix contributes to the sustainability and success of the festival which, in 2013, was measured as making a contribution to the provincial economy of over R340-million.”
But, Lankester said, the monument was an important asset for Grahamstown and vital to the staging of a successful festival, and the Grahamstown Foundation, through its projects, made a major contribution to the cultural and educational life of the country.
“The festival endorses and supports any effort that contributes to (the foundation’s) viability.”
The foundation, a non-profit company, also operates the 1820 Settlers National Monument, which is the hub of the NAF and other festivals such as Scifest Africa.
Its arts, local, provincial and national art, science and education projects affect the lives of thousands of South Africans, Clayton said.
“These are tough economic times for the foundation, as they are for hundreds of NGOs in South Africa since the economic took hold,” she added.
But, she said, the foundation was currently presenting reports to stakeholders on its full year of activities during 2015 and planning was well under way for 2016.
“The Grahamstown Foundation is not about to close operations.
“We are engaging with all our stakeholders to ensure sustainability, and the foundation is engaged in an ongoing dialogue with government about the possibility of receiving heritage grant funding in the future.”
Purdon said in a press statement the foundation’s financial woes had started when its annual heritage grant from the arts and culture department stopped without warning in 2011.
Grahamstown Foundation in financial funk
This was affirmed by the foundation’s executive director Louisa Clayton in reaction to a statement by Democratic Alliance MPL Ross Purdon.
Purdon said the foundation faced financial catastrophe after its backup coffers ran dry, putting at risk its independent tenant, the National Arts Festival, and the foundation’s other vital national and provincial science, arts, education and tourism projects.
National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester also dismissed as inaccurate and misleading Purdon’s inference that any financial difficulties faced by the Grahamstown Foundation represented a possible catastrophe for the festival.
He said the two were wholly separate legal entities, with different funding models, mandates and governance structures and the festival was not dependent on the foundation or monument for its future sustainability.
“The festival’s business model is based upon a sustainable mix of self-generated income and funding from both public and private entities, including the national and provincial departments of arts and culture.
“This mix contributes to the sustainability and success of the festival which, in 2013, was measured as making a contribution to the provincial economy of over R340-million.”
But, Lankester said, the monument was an important asset for Grahamstown and vital to the staging of a successful festival, and the Grahamstown Foundation, through its projects, made a major contribution to the cultural and educational life of the country.
“The festival endorses and supports any effort that contributes to (the foundation’s) viability.”
The foundation, a non-profit company, also operates the 1820 Settlers National Monument, which is the hub of the NAF and other festivals such as Scifest Africa.
Its arts, local, provincial and national art, science and education projects affect the lives of thousands of South Africans, Clayton said.
“These are tough economic times for the foundation, as they are for hundreds of NGOs in South Africa since the economic took hold,” she added.
But, she said, the foundation was currently presenting reports to stakeholders on its full year of activities during 2015 and planning was well under way for 2016.
“The Grahamstown Foundation is not about to close operations.
“We are engaging with all our stakeholders to ensure sustainability, and the foundation is engaged in an ongoing dialogue with government about the possibility of receiving heritage grant funding in the future.”
Purdon said in a press statement the foundation’s financial woes had started when its annual heritage grant from the arts and culture department stopped without warning in 2011.
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