South Africa
National Board for the State Theatre

afrol.com, 05 July - The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, today announced the formation, under newly elected Chair Mr Welcome Msomi, of the National Board for the State Theatre. The Board will, in addition, serve as the Advisory Board on National Arts Policy.

The Board, which held its first meeting today at the offices of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, is comprised of a range of experts from around the country as its mandate is national in resolving the crisis at the State Theatre and charting a way forward for arts policy more broadly. In looking at the future of the State Theatre, the Board has been asked to review policy for the performing arts and build on the existing framework, such as the 1996 White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage. This comes in light of the challenges facing theatres and performing arts companies and organisations around the country in a context that has changed on a fundamental level since 1994. Ngubane said that this millennium poses new threats and also presents new opportunities for the arts sector.

The new Board brings a broad range of skills and experience to the table, with business, community arts, policy and performing arts expertise, as well as representation by managers of successful private- and state-funded theatres. Board members have extensive links and commitment to the arts community across the spectrum and are integrally involved in ensuring its development to the benefit of the country. The Board involves key officials of the Department (DACST) as well as representatives of the National Arts Council (NAC), Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT). 

Board members are as follows: -
* Mr Welcome Msomi (Chair)
* Mr Walter Chakela
* Ms Doreen Nteta
* Mr Christopher Seabrooke
* Mr Edmund Radebe
* Mr Bongani Tembe
* Mr Mike van Graan
* Mr Jay Pather
* Mr Mannie Manim
* Mr Themba Wakashe
* Ms Carol Steinberg
* Mr Sikkie Kajee

The Board has scheduled its second meeting in a week's time and will be working intensively to address the issues that fall under its mandate.

Source: Office of the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology of South Africa

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