Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has been saying all the right things about where he wants to take the arts and culture industry, from a government perspective.
A country that embraces its heritage understands the invaluable role artists play in uniting different cultures.
It ensures, through the passing of laws, that artists are protected from exploitation and that none of them has to plead poverty during or after their careers.
It also makes it a priority that the arts and culture industry is not in the hands of a select few gatekeepers but is open to anyone displaying skills and talents.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s words are timely: “It is through understanding and celebrating our shared heritage that we can begin to bridge the gaps that divide us and move forward as a united and inclusive society. ... Our activists and contributors to our Struggle for democracy include artists and intellectuals who used their creative talent and vision to draw attention to the realities and demands of our national liberation Struggle.”
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has been saying all the right things about where he wants to take the arts and culture industry, from a government perspective.
He has also displayed his interest in consulting industry bodies on issues affecting the fraternity. His energy is refreshing, some have observed, and shows that he is on a mission to turn things around, hopefully for the best.
Many seasoned artists will tell you they have seen and heard this before.
Their problems are well-documented and ministers have come and gone with their promises while artists languish in poverty.
It’s heartbreaking that some legends who have graced our TV screens die with little to nothing to show for their illustrious careers.
It’s disheartening listening to some of the greatest actors, poets and painters relate stories of how they were close to becoming homeless.
Some young artists grapple in silence with mental health-related illnesses, not knowing where or to whom to turn.
The sooner we, as a country, recognise that this is not a government problem alone, the better. We must rally behind initiatives and platforms that seek to elevate our artists, the true custodians of our heritage.
The government must, however, take responsibility by ensuring that the days of artists being treated as “by the way” are gone.
History records that words with no action will not achieve this.
Cape Times