The Grahamstown Foundation‚ which is home to multiple arts‚ science and education projects‚ is facing tough financial times but is not closing down operations‚ says its executive director Louisa Clayton.
Clayton was responding to a statement by Democratic Alliance MPL Ross Purdon that the foundation faced financial catastrophe after its backup coffers ran dry‚ putting at risk 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 on Tuesday 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 the 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 R340m.”
But‚ he said the monument was an important asset for Grahamstown and vital to the staging of a successful festival‚ and that 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. It’s arts‚ local‚ provincial and national art‚ science and education projects affect the lives of thousands of South Africans‚ said Clayton.
“These are tough economic times for the Foundation‚ as they are for hundreds of NGOs in South Africa since the economic recession 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 underway 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. It received its last grant payment of R2.8 million during that year.
“The reality is that if this grant is not forthcoming the foundation will be forced to close the institution and its projects‚” Purdon had warned.
Lankester said the 2016 NAF dates had been set for June 30 – July 10 and planning was at an advanced stage.
The DAC had not commented at the time of writing.
RDM News Wire.
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