Government should provide support for artists
OVER the past 20 years, artists and arts organisations in South Africa have developed strong networks with festivals, theatres and artists residencies abroad. This is a long walk from the days when South Africa was a pariah and was culturally isolated by the rest of the globe.
There are significantly large audiences for South African artists in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. Notably, most of the support for South African artists taking their work to these countries has come from agencies such as the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), Pro Helvetia, the Goethe Institute and the embassy of the Netherlands in South Africa.
Among the artists who have become leading names in Europe are choreographers and dancers Gregory Maqoma, Vincent Mantsoe, Dada Masilo and Mamela Nyamza. They join the ranks of South African artists Robyn Orlin and Steven Cohen, who have more opportunities performing abroad than they do back home.
In recent years, South African theatre producers have been able to export their productions with the backing of the World Fringe Alliance to Prague and Australia. Among the most successful artists who have been supported by the World Fringe Alliance are Tara Louise Nottcutt, Stuart Lightbody and Jemma Kahn.
Artists who have ventured into China have mainly been supported by the Department of Arts and Culture as part of a bilateral agreement between the governments of the two countries.
In Canada, South African audiences have been fortunate to be supported by ex-pat South African academic Marcia Blumberg. She remains a strong advocate who goes out of her way to connect South African artists with organisations and institutions across Canada.
A most recent beneficiary of her generous spirit has been Clive Mathibe, a young theatre director who recently was in Canada on an exchange programme. When Blumberg heard that he was in Toronto, she made time to meet him and to offer him her respected wisdom.
In recent years, theatre director Fred Abrahamse has become a hit in the US. He has been able to scoop more than one invitation to present his brilliant productions at the annual festival that celebrates the works of Tennessee Williams.
Arts producer Nikki Froneman has been able to grow audiences for South African theatre in Argentina. At the recent arts market held in Buenos Aires, it became evident that Latin American audiences in other South American countries are hungry for South African performances.
Much of this has to do with the shared histories of the two continents in their fights against colonial- ism and its lasting imprints which both continents are working towards altering.
While most South African artists who have been able to travel abroad have been fortunate to do so with the generosity and the vision of foreign diplomatic missions and foundations abroad, there is still a massive gap in how South Africa’s own Department of Arts and Culture can play its part to help to advance markets for South African productions abroad.
Over the past four years, there has been much discussion about the development of a touring fund to support artists who receive invitations from credible festivals abroad.
This Mzanzi Golden Economy dream conjured up by Paul Mashitile, former minister of arts and culture, has yet to be turned into policy and action.
At the recent Market for the Culture and Arts Industries (Mica) held in South America, the Argentine Minister of Arts and Culture, Teresa Adelina Sellares (Parodi), said to artists in her opening address: “Art and culture is work. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise”. It was with this spirit that Argentine artists were inspired to find networks with newer international markets knowing that they have the backing of their government.
It will be music to the ears of South African artists if they were to be told the same by South Africa’s arts bureaucracy, and confidently to know that the government’s backing to grow international markets for the arts can also be fuelled by passion, vision and an economic sensibility.