DCAS beneficiaries receive R14.053 million from Minister Marais

Annually, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport provides financial support to arts and culture organisations within the province. 

Today, 1 October 2015, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, handed over “the big cheque”  totalling R14.053 million to arts and culture beneficiaries. The intention of this funding vehicle is to develop, promote and preserve arts and culture in the Western Cape.

[Note to editors: This extract is based on a speech delivered by Minister Anroux Marais during her keynote address at the Big Cheque Hand Over to Arts and Culture Beneficiaries in the Western Cape]

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport annually provides financial support to arts and culture organisation, the intention of this funding vehicle is to give expression to our core mandate to develop, promote and preserve arts and culture in the Western Cape.

The Department’s funding policy is used to guide the processing and allocation of subsidies to successful applicants. It guides the Department’s approach and aims to support and develop organisations in the performing and creative arts environment in the Western cape.

Through the Annual Funding the Department facilitates an enabling environment whereby partnerships with organisations are forged to unlock hidden potential, and strengthen the arts fraternity and thereby build social inclusion within the Province. 

Over the last three years the Department has made R45.879 million available towards the development, promotion and preservation of arts and culture:  In the current financial year of 2015/2016 my department will disburse R14.053 million.

For the current financial year, 270 applications requesting  nearly R92.19 million were received, which far exceeds the available funding. The Department has  allocated subsidies to 46 organisations who will benefit from the allocated  R14.053 million. Amongst us today are some of the beneficiaries of the departmental funding.

I would also like to thank other funding partners for arts and culture in the Western Cape.  These include government agencies such as the National Arts Council and the National Lottery and also municipalities.  In particular I would like to thank the private sector and individuals.  Without their contribution arts and culture in the Western Cape and in our country would be poorer!

The Department recognises the valuable contributions of all organisations inclusive of those that have not received financial support from the department. The fact that some organisations were not successful in their applications should not discourage or demoralise or instil the belief amongst arts and culture practitioners that their contributions are of less value. It is against this background that the Department forges partnerships and works with organisations on multiple levels in support of the arts. I want to re-iterate that unsuccessful organisations should continue with their activities as it does not go unseen.

In conclusion I want to encourage organisations within the arts to support each other and to exchange their intellectual capital as I am of the belief that networking can only have a positive effect and creates the trajectory within the arts that we all so dearly believe in.