director's message

The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology held a press briefing on 4 August. The invitation stated that: "With museum restructuring nearly completed, the Minister has decided on this as the subject of his briefing." We came away none the wiser, as probing questions regarding financial arrangements, rationalisation and management structures were neatly side-stepped. Museum workers have been left out of the process in the end, and we have as yet no indication as to how things will unfold, and what our futures may be. As the situation worsens, and people become more and more insecure about their positions, morale is deteriorating - to some it feels like taking slow poison.

At the press briefing the Minister reiterated some of the things he said in his budget speech, delivered on 1 June. It is to this event that I now turn. At the beginning of the current financial year institutions were told that DACST had suffered a budget cut but that we would receive the same amount as the year before (as indicated in the previous bonani the SANG received R1 million less). The budget for DACST was actually increased by R103.2 million from R607.6 to R737.9 million (a 21.4% increase comprising 0.37% of the national budget). Entitled 'Challenges and opportunities on the arduous road to a democratic, accessible, equitable and affordable dispensation: the Ministry response', Minister Lionel Mtshali spoke about transformation, restructuring, empowerment, equity and balance. I would like to focus on his pronouncements on 'pluralism', 'multi-culturalism' and the allocation of resources.

The fact of the matter is that DACST is not maintaining essential direct provision, which is why museums are running on reserves and have no money for major functions. According to the Minister, we have to get it into our heads that ". . . in the new global economy, societies are responsible for themselves". We are reminded of fiscal discipline and parsimony and the need to reduce the deficit, yet the government can allocate R65 million to host a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

We are already taking care of ourselves, and our doors remain open because we have reserves. I quoted figures before: at the SANG we raised R920 000 in the 1997/98 financial year, not counting the huge amounts spent on exhibitions and other projects that are not reflected in our books because they are funded by foreign governments and agencies. We acknowledge with gratitude the amount of R50 000,00 which we received from DACST for the casting and repatriation of sculptures by Dumile Feni, who died in New York, and for making it possible for Hannah Marie Pheiffer to work at the SANG. I would also like to express our deep appreciation to all who made possible the exhibitions 'Transpositions' (contemporary Swedish art); 'A Changed World' (contemporary British Sculpture); the exhibition of work by the great German artist Joseph Beuys; 'Land and Lives'; 'The Davis Presentation' and 'African photography 1887 - 1997'. We remain grateful to our South African supporters: Sappi Waste Paper for the funding of bonani; the Rowland and Leta Hill Trust for the restoration of the Liberman doors and carved panels in the building; MWeb for the impressive new website linking all Cape Town museums; The Scan Shop which accommodates us in every possible way to cut costs; Herdbuoys McCann-Erickson for their design-input. Assistance has come from new directions. Sanlam has made possible the exhibition and catalogue of the work of Harry Trevor at the Natale Labia Museum, while Zonnebloem Wines are spearheading a drive to raise funds for the SANG. More about this in the next issue of bonani.