Art is a country s heartbeat

If South Africa is flat-lining, then arts and culture are the defibrillator. This is according to some artists at the launch of the Department of Arts and Cultures Living Legends Legacy Project, which is intended to promote cultural development through mentorship and master classes. By Leonie Wagner and Gabe Mbele

Minister Nathi Mthethwa has pledged R5-million as an initial investment.

Veterans such as Joe Mafela, Abigail Kubeka, Don Mattera, Caiphus Semenya and Thandi Klaasen will run master classes and mentor up-and-coming artists.

Mthethwa said: Our strategic objective is to ensure that there is transference of skills, knowledge and experience to the younger generation, while at the same time creating opportunities for our legends to continue pursuing viable careers in the arts.

Although many welcome the project, government funding remains a problem for the industry.

Greg Homann, of the Wits School of Arts, said that while government funding was available for the theatre, there was a problem in respect of artists accessing it.

About the project, Homann said: In principle this sounds like a valuable initiative and on paper it has merit as a means to strengthen young artists, but my fear, if other initiatives like this are anything to go by, is that the engagement period will be too short for any real moment of value, and the structure of the engagement will be too informal to achieve a meaningful result .

Director and playwright John Kani and musician Simphiwe Dana said more funding was needed. Kani said that the lack of funding was a reflection of the governments attitude to the arts.

It makes me angry that arts and culture are not [on the governments] agenda. Weve lost our humanity because we are so focused on maths, science and engineering. Ubuntu was not found in science, its in the arts.

I want the government to take the arts seriously, I want business to invest, and I want the community to support the arts.

Recording Industry of SA operations director David du Plessis welcomed the project but said many artists are dying poor because we are not getting airplay on our own radio stations.

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Kani added: If you are going to encourage legends to hand over the baton, whos going to see to their livelihood? Some will say its my duty, but my duty was my contribution to the liberation struggle ... my duty is over; now I must be remunerated.

Dana said: The programme is a start, but can they also enrich black people in their projects. Many artists are dying poor still because we are not getting airplay on our own radio stations where international music is still favoured over local content. This is an ongoing debate about developing local content and the fact that funding processes for local filmmakers and authors should be simplified. People shouldnt have to wait two years to get funding.

Recording Industry of South Africa (Risa) operations director David du Plessis welcomed the Living Legends project, saying older musicians can teach the young musicians vital skills about the industry.

This could lead to solidarity between the department and the arts and culture in this case, musicians, and would open the doors to an ongoing engagements with relevant stakeholders and musicians in the country. Sure the department can do better, but it would be unfair to point out certain cases because different people have different experiences with the department, said Du Plessis.

The Cape Town Film Commissions chief executive officer Denis Lillie said individuals involved in the industry are already assisting by being members of panels and workshops that support and inform the emerging talent which has led to a huge transfer of knowledge and skills already.

In the 2013/2014 financial year the Cape Town film industry contributed R5,5-billion to the Western Cape economy through all aspects of film and television including animation, commercials, reality TV shows. Lillie applauded the Department of Arts and Culture for signing film co-production treaties with countries such as the UK, Ireland, Germany and France.

There are some challenges appearing in the processes and policies of DAC such as the exclusion of certain demographic groups from some opportunities.

They could work with and support more organisations such as the Cape Film Commission and support more South African film productions designed to sell into the international market. This would allow a more sustainable indigenous film and television industry to develop that would create more sustainable jobs and productions that are less reliant on government funding, said Lillie.

Associate Professor Michael Campbell of the College of Music at the University of Cape Town said: As professionals in the music industry we obviously welcome support for the discipline, and would value any positive contribution emanating from government circles .

www.timeslive.co.za

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