 |
South African National Gallery |  |
| bonani 3rd quarter 1998  |
Current Exhibitions & Special Events Natale Labia Museum Friends of the National Gallery |
|
In previous issues of bonani I have drawn attention to the financial crisis which the national art museum faces. On 13 March 1998 I wrote to the Director General of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) in response to our subsidy allocation for the 1998/99 financial year (an edited version appears below). Josie Frater, Chairperson of the SANG Finance Committee, also wrote to the Minister. Copies of all correspondence and documentation were sent to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee. We hoped that we would again receive an ad hoc grant as we did at the end of the previous financial year. This was not forthcoming, so our current allocation is in real terms reduced by R1 million. There have been no written responses to our letters; we are told that individual institutions must work within the budgetary constraints, and not expect to be bailed out should we get into trouble. The focus of the DACST is on the creation of Flagship institutions in the Western Cape and Gauteng Provinces. Where is this process right now? The Transformation sub-committees, constituted to work with DACST, have completed their tasks. Early on it was clear that salaries consumed virtually the entire combined subsidy of the future flagship museums and that it would be impossible to implement the proposed new management structures. It was also evident that our institutions were only functioning because we had reserves and were able to raise funds for projects and activities. Reserves are now being depleted in order to keep our doors open. In May we asked DACST to respond to the information and to present us with a vision and a plan and for implementing the flagships, as we have repeatedly been told that no additional funds would be available. The meeting took place on 11 June. It was agreed that the public process of establishing the councils for the two new flagships would commence, and that there would be a transitional phase before the amalgamation of the budgets and the implementation of the new structure. While being fully supportive of the restructuring and the vision for a national museum service, I still fail to see how this is possible within current subsidy levels: we are paying salaries and using reserves for running costs and maintenance. There is no money for museological, curatorial and educational functions. The responsibility for the safekeeping of our priceless heritage and the well-being of the workers in the sector lies with the government, but we see little commitment to our institutions. Instead there is a strong sense of the burden being shifted to museums - in the case of the future flagships, to councils that do not as yet exist. Until this happens, individual museums are expected to remain open and function without funds.
Dear Mr Jardine
SUBSIDY ALLOCATION 1998/99
Thank for your letter dated 21 January, addressed to the Chairperson of the Board, and the subsidy allocation for the 1998/99 financial year. We appreciate the fact that our subsidy was not cut and that the allocation for the improvement of conditions of service was added. This letter comes as a response to your request that the institution gives you an indication as to whether we will fit our anticipated expenditure to meet the allocation, and to indicate what measures we will take to stay within the limits of our budget.
Ever since the implementation of Framework Autonomy in 1988, this institution has repeatedly pointed out to the government that our subsidy is inadequate. In fact, it always fell short of the actual amount indicated by the formula. This was substantiated by the Deloitte and Touche investigation, and acknowledged by the DACST that we should have been receiving an amount in excess of R5 million. Every year we would make representation to the Department and point out that we were operating under circumstances that were approaching a crisis situation. We are now in that position. Up until now we have managed because we have sought funds for specific projects and we have maintained our reserves. Last year we specifically indicated that if we were not to receive an increase, the institution would find itself in serious trouble and we would have to deplete our reserves simply in order to keep our doors open.
To give you some indication about the gravity of the situation, I would like to refer to a few key elements in our budget. We will receive R3 974 000 for the 1998/99 financial year. Salaries comprise R3 912 328 of this amount, i e 98% of the subsidy. This leaves us with R62 000 with which to run the SANG. In order to fulfil our basic line and support functions, and to pay for running costs, we require an additional R2 330 000. This minimal amount reflects the caution and modesty with which staff have prepared their budgets. If we were to reduce this figure it would be to the detriment of the safety and security of the collections, the nature and quality of our exhibitions, as well as our education programmes.
We recently had to account to the Minister with regard to theft from our collection. For a number of years we have taken this matter seriously and have trained security staff and installed closed-circuit television at our own expense. But the safekeeping of the national art collection goes beyond security measures. Our storage facilities are hopelessly inadequate, and we are not able to provide the structures and systems required for sound conservation practice. Financial responsibility for pest control used to rest with the PWD, but now it has also come our way, without any discussion or consultation, and without additional funding.
We find ourselves in a position where we are not able to honour our vision and our commitment to build and protect the national art collection for posterity. As matters stand now, we will not be able to make any acquisitions during the coming financial year. Our budget has remained the same since 1984 - at R200 000, of which we generated R133 000 during the current financial year. A collection stagnates if it is not added to in a strategic and consistent manner, and we often lose important historical and contemporary works because we cannot compete with private and corporate collectors. Acquiring objects is, however, not only about the institution and its collection; it is also about sustaining viable art practice through the purchase of art works. If we do not buy the work of South African artists, their livelihood is reduced and threatened, and our society offers no safety net.
Other consequences are equally far-reaching, for example we will not be able to meet the criteria set by the DACST in relation to zero budgeting. Our impact on society in terms of redress, reconstruction and development is also seriously affected.
We have for many years been aware of the need to raise funds in order to augment the government subsidy, and this we have done enthusiastically and consistently for projects. In fact we have not been able to organise any major exhibitions, education programmes or produce publications without support from the private sector and other agencies. This amounts to R920 000 for the current financial year, and the projected figure at this stage for 1998/99 is R600 000. The latter figure will increase substantially in the course of the year. We have done this without having any staff member employed for the purpose, and we find increasingly that we have to raise money in order to do our work. In addition, huge amounts of money spent on exhibitions are not reflected in our books, because they come through foreign governments and are fully funded. We have in a sense been able to create the illusion that all is well and our visitors figures - as well as our international reputation - have increased dramatically. To find funds with which to pay salaries and running costs is, however, impossible.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity of presenting the plight in which we find ourselves. It is an indication that you are interested in our individual situations and that you care about assisting us in resolving our problems and meeting our challenges. We look forward to hearing from you.
With best wishes
|
Anish Kapoor, The Chant of Blue, 1983, polystyrene, resin, gesso and pigment. |
Top of page