Governance

Iziko is a national heritage institution established under the Cultural Institutions Act. It is governed by a Council appointed by the Minister of Arts and Culture.

Executive

The Executive consists of the CEO, Executive Director: Core Functions, Executive Director: Operations, Director of Institutional Advancement and the Chief Financial Officer.

Iziko has three operational units, namely Core Functions, Operations and the Department of Institutional Advancement in the office of the CEO.

Core Functions includes Natural History Collections, Social History Collections, Art Collections, Education & Public Programmes and Exhibitions.

Operations includes Finance & Administration, Customer Services, Facilities Management and Human Resources.

Institutional Advancement manages Marketing and Communications.

Core Functions

Natural History Collections

The Natural History Collections Department is located mainly in the South African Museum where it is responsible for all animal and fossil research collections. Our main collection strengths are: marine invertebrates and fishes, insects (particularly ants, bees and wasps), vertebrate osteology, Karoo mammal-like reptile fossils, fossil ammonites, and Cenozoic fossils from the West Coast Fossil Park. Speciality areas of our scientists include ants, parasitic wasps, sharks and rays, cephalopod molluscs, ammonite fossils, palaeoecology of Gondwana, and the reconstruction of past environments from the analysis of micromammals in owl pellets.

Social History Collections

The Social History Collections Department encompasses the cultural heritage of South Africa past and present. It holds significant collections in pre-colonial, maritime and colonial archaeology, southern African material culture and colonial history, as well as international and contemporary collections. It is responsible for some of the most significant historical sites in Cape Town, including the former VOC Slave Lodge. The Department focuses on interpreting, conserving and managing these heritage resources to engage, educate and inspire diverse audiences. It is committed to researching and developing exhibitions and public programmes that uncover formerly untold histories and include the lives of ordinary people.

Art Collections

The South African National Gallery, the country’s premier art museum, houses outstanding collections of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art. Temporary exhibitions of paintings, works on paper, photography, new media, sculpture, beadwork and textiles from the Permanent Collection are presented regularly. They provide insight into the range of aesthetic production in South Africa, the African continent and further afield.

The Michaelis Collection is housed in the Old Town House on Greenmarket Square. It comprises a world-renowned collection of Netherlandish art from the 17th century.

The Education and Public Programmes Department promotes education by facilitating public access to our Collections and museum sites. We support exhibitions with education programmes and tours, learning support material and public programmes.

We operate resource centres, including the Planetarium, that are unique spaces for learning about our diverse heritage. As part of our commitment to audience development and community outreach, we frequently present community-based programmes or produce learning resources for use in communities and classrooms.

Exhibitions

We develop exhibitions in collaboration with our Collections divisions and through public partnerships with other institutions and interest groups.

Operations

Finance & Administration

The Finance & Administration Department is a service and support unit that empowers and adds value in meeting and exceeding the expectations of internal and external customers through a highly committed and competent team. The department is responsible for the financial management of Iziko. This incorporates the principal areas of financial management including accounting, procurement and asset management.

Customer Services

The Customer Services Department covers the day to day operations at our fourteen sites, including the duties of front of house, security, and cleaning staff, and general upkeep. It assists Finance & Administration by collecting gate income, and assists with the functions and events organised by Institutional Advancement.

Facilities Management

The Facilities Management Department is responsible for improvements and upgrading of public reception facilities, health and safety matters, maintenance of buildings, gardens and forecourts, as well as managing the telephone network and vehicle fleet. The department also manages the IT infrastructure and communication networks.

Human Resources

The Human Resources Department manages the payroll as well as the following Human Resources functions:

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Workplace Relations
• Learning and Development Programme

Institutional Advancement

The Institutional Advancement Department of Iziko develops public awareness of Iziko Museums as a brand denoting African museums of excellence. We encourage the public to visit our museums and to celebrate with us South Africa’s diverse heritage.
 

The Marketing unit strives to:

• increase visitor numbers to Iziko through dissemination of information, through special events and publications, and by forging partnerships with educational and entertainment organisations
• determine visitor needs and to utilise this information to ensure that Iziko Museums provide an exciting and relevant learning experience for all visitors
• generate funds through venue hire and by procuring corporate sponsorship generate interest in Iziko through publicity and media cooperation.
   

The Communications and Publications unit manages internal and external communications and produces Iziko’s corporate and marketing publications. It also manages copyright, the website, and Iziko’s internal printing and binding services. .