The Eastern Cape Provincial Government’s Executive Council Committee adopted a resolution to explore ways to invest more money in the National Arts Festival, in a bid to sustain it and keep it in the province to grow the economic spin-offs.
The Premier’s spokesperson, Mvusi Sicwetsha says it is also aimed at creating more opportunities for local artists, and small businesses.
He says during the EXCO meeting in Mthatha this week, the Committee received a presentation from the National Arts Festival board, that proposed government’s increase of the investment currently made to the festival by the provincial government.
In the current year, the provincial government’s Sports, Recreations, Arts and Culture Department pumped more than R13-million into the festival.
Sicwetsha says a decision was made to appoint an Inter-ministerial Task Team, led by MEC Fezeka Bayeni, to work on the possible investment options, and will present a report at the next meeting of the Executive Council.
