Arts and culture sector vows to challenge minister over funding cuts

THE South African arts and culture industry is in an uproar, preparing for a major showdown with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and its minister, Gayton McKenzie.

- MASHUDU SADIKE

The department is under fire for its decision to significantly reduce funding for major cultural festivals.

This backlash is further fuelled by the reallocation of R82 million from its budget, money initially earmarked for the now-abandoned Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology project.

This contentious move has thrown beloved events like the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the National Arts Festival, Suidoosterfees, KKNK, Woordfees, Innibos, Aardklop, and the Vrystaat Kunstefees into deep crisis, raising serious concerns about the very survival of South Africa’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Adding fuel to the fire is the revelation that the R82 million diversion was initially meant for sports federations, a move critics claim is “crippling grassroots sport”.

Artist organisations are not taking these decisions lying down, saying they were gearing up to fight back against the minister's decision, whether through court or taking to the streets. Nonprofit organisation Artists United (AU) said they were appalled by the minister's decision.

“We are shocked to hear, as Artists United, of this move, but if it’s true, we think it’s a big mistake from the department to take such a decision with no reasons,’ read a collective statement from the AU.

The organisation highlighted the devastating impact on employment.