âââ OLEBOGENG MOTSE 12:33 Tue, 06 Apr 2021
Parliamentâs Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture is in Bloemfontein following the Easter weekend to attend to issues at the heart of the weekâs long sit-in by artists at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs).
The committee is at present engaging the newly elected board of Pacofs regarding the allegations levelled against management which include misconduct and favouritism.
The Provincial Coordinator of the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (Ccifsa) in the Free State, Mbuyiselo Nqodi, tells OFM News, the Committee will around midday on Tuesday address disgruntled artists as well as Pacofs staff.
EFF adds voice to protesting artists’ pleas for funding Nica Richards
Artists continue to stage a sit-in at the National Arts Council offices, saying they are going nowhere until they get paid what is due to them. Photo: Twitter/@tsepomhlongo Artists have been protesting and staging sit-ins at various arts councils across the country, citing prolonged lack of funding.
As soon as Covid-19 lockdown ensued in March last year, the livelihoods of thousands of artists were instantly throttled.
Since then, they have been attempting to get relief from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
Many have still not been awarded funding by the National Arts Council (NAC), an agency of the department.
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