Creative community rallies to help stricken artist
The art community has gathered in support of artist Vusi Beauchamp who is suffering from severe heart failure and needs heart surgery.
To raise funds to assist Beauchamp, some of his work was put up for auction and other artists also donated their work.
Kalashnikov Gallery and Aspire Art Auctions co-hosted a two-day group exhibition earlier this month and an online auction to raise funds for Beauchamp’s heart surgery.
Some of these artists included Ayanda Mabulu, Senzeni Marasela, Johan Thom, Diane Victor, Gordon Froud and Jake Michael Singer.
MJ Turpin, one of the directors of Kalashnikov Gallery, says that the support from the art community has been phenomenal.
“We have managed to raise R500 000 thus far for Vusi, which is incredible,” he says.
Turpin also expressed his disappointment and concern with the government for the lack of support it gives artists.
He says that he feels the government has abandoned the arts and creative community as a whole.
“For example, the textile community has a union of some sort that would support such initiatives — it is really just unfortunate that
the arts do not have the same support,” he says.
What would be ideal for the government to do to support artists is to put forward some sort of fund for them.
“It would help a great deal. Artists — whether it be dancers, thespians or painters — all of them … They would have to file a form and state whether they have a life-threatening illness and it should not be a hassle for someone to assist them,” Turpin says.
In 2021, Jack Devnarian who played Rajesh Kumar in the popular television show Isidingo, responded to a post on the social media platform X from the presidency passing on condolences to Shaleen Surtierichards family after she died of multiple health issues.
Devnarian said: “Mourning? Because you and your honourable members who ‘can’t make ends meet’ did nothing to help her when she needed medical care or a peaceful retirement. A 40-year-old career and parliament still blocked her right to earn #fairroyalties from her work. Tell me again how you are mourning.”
Carlo Radebe, known for his role as Duke in the television series Backstage, is homeless and struggling. It appears that he does not have a support base.
Based on a Facebook post by Mauritz Neethling, it appears that Radebe has lost everything and is struggling to make ends meet. His plight came after the Covid pandemic when he, like many others in the arts, were unable to get back up on their feet.
The post calls for people to help him with airtime to send his CV out for auditions and that he may “regain some dignity and free him from this dark tomb he finds himself in”.
These are stories of many artists who, once they lose their footing, it is difficult to get back up because they have no support network, especially from the state.
There are many others that we have not seen on our screens or stages for a long time because of a lack of support from the industry as well.
Many have resorted to nine to five jobs to ensure that they stay afloat for the sake of their families.