Minutes of the PANSA: Western Cape Annual General Meeting held at the Nyanga Arts Development Centre on 22 April 2010 starting at 19h00

Present

Alvin Rensburg (Golden Dixie), Amanda Martins (Ladies Mantambaza), Angela Muspratt-Williams, D. Davids (Golden Dixie), Erica Glyn-Jones, Given Jikwana, Heather Groenewald (DelftCommunity Music Academy), I. Patterson (Golden Dixie), Jolene Jameson (Proudly Manenberg), Judi Kapangura (GFDP), Kurt Egelhof (Applauz Arts Initiative), Lonwabo Rani (Silulo Nlatho), Melanie Maholl (DEDAT), Mteto (NADC), Mzamadoda Vavi, Natasha Torkey (Ubuntu Cultural Development), Nicolette Moses (Baxter Theatre), Nompaphelo Khubi (Ingqayi Project), Paul Muspratt-Williams, Phelisile Jamani (Sonivabile DSHA), Nolonwabo Base, Randall Kennedy (Cosmopolitan Cape Town), Sascha Egelhof (Applauz Arts Initiative), Shani Sanger (Proudly Manenberg), Tanya Surtees, Veda Hallowes, Wendy Thoane (NADC), Yasmine (Proudly Manenberg), Yusrah Bardien, Yvette Hardie

Apologies

Constance Guqulo-Kandani, David Muller, Deon Lotz, Erica Elk, Fred Benbow-Hebbert, Haidee Crowe,  Janni Younge, Johan Esterhuizen, Karen Jeynes, Ntombi Makhutshi, Peter Hayes, Peter Theunissen, Sabine Palfi, Sonya Burger, Thessa Bos, Ukhona Mlandu-Letsika, Willem Oelofsen,

Welcome

The Chairperson, Tanya Surtees, welcomed the members to the 9^th Annual General Meeting of PANSA Western Cape.

Approval of the Minutes

The minutes from the Annual General Meeting of 2009 were approved.

Proposed: Erica Glyn-Jones

Seconded: Paul Muspratt-Williams

Guest Speaker

Kurt Egelhof

Performer, Producer, Community Internventionist, Head Judge for the City of Cape Town 2010 Auditions

Kurt Egelhof addressed the meeting on the importance of new beginnings and the importance of living in the moment. He told the meeting that we are sitting in the middle of a big opportunity to build a legacy for arts and culture by developing opportuntities for the amazing amount of talent that is emerging from the audition process. There is the opportunity to create a strong, powerful professional network that builds itself and there will be no need for a networking organization such as PANSA. He urged the meeting to take the opportunities provided by PANSA to build a new future.

Chairperson’s Report

Tanya Surtees provided a comparison between the 2008 and 2009 years to illustrate the significant growth in the organization, projects run and funding received. In 2009 there was a 210% increase in the amount of funding received which enabled PANSA to run 9 projects and to self fund the first Xhosa 48 Hours Festival. The full report is on the PANSA web site.

Organisational Report

Brian Heydenrych, Business Development Manager, presented the activities, achievements and challenges experienced in the past year. The powerpoint presentation is available on the PANSA web site www.pansa.org.za It was noted that the organization is currently project driven and details were given of the different projects: Westend 5, Arts Map, 2010 entertainment strategy, 2010 final draw, 2010 audition process, story telling festival, Cape Town Live!, workshops, strategic thinking and life skills programme. The future programmes and opportunities a\have been identified as the development of an accredited training programme in arts administration, expansion of the arts development network programme and research and analysis of trends, especially an economic impact analysis of the performing arts industry.

Comments

It was noted that the Department of Arts and Culture does not feature as a PANSA partner. It was reported that the Department does not fund organizations directly channeling funding through the National Arts Council. This organization has not supported networking organizations in the recent past. It was strongly recommended that PANSA identify projects that fit the Department’s profile.

There was a question as to whether there are any strategies to promote what the industry is doing such as specific themes. PANSA does not have key target areas.

It was proposed that research and trends is key for promoting the sustainability of the industry and establishing core practice. It was recommended that PANSA should have annual themes for specific outcomes. There is a need for proper research. This is to be referred to the new board.

It was proposed that it is very important to quantify the fiduciary contribution of the industry to provide a strong motivation to government to provide more support.

There was a question on the use of tenders to sustain the organization and a proposal that other strategies are considered.

Financial Report

Erica Glyn-Jones presented the financial statement for the past year which reflected the assets and liabilities. It was noted that only the national accounts are audited. The National Committee financial year runs from 1 January – 31 December. The committee is finalizing the 2008/9 audit and will start the 2009/10 audit shortly. The accounts presented reflect the state of the organization up to 31March 2010. PANSA currently has to report according to three different financial years:

National Financial Year: 1 January – 31 December

Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism: 1 April – 31 March

City of Cape Town: 1 July – 30 June

PANSA Western Cape is managing the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund allocation to the National office which must still complete the compilation of a book celebrating dance in South Africa. There are funding applications to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Lotteries. Africalia has confirmed a 3-year sponsorship for the development of PANSA offices / help desks throughout South Africa. There is a greater use of the BrainBank where people can pay for services through their time rather than through cash.

Matters Arising

Given Jikwana raised six issues to be considered by the incoming Steering Committee

1. Projects appear to be started by the Departments and not based on research

He raised the concern that PANSA was becoming donor driven and that as a networking organization, projects such be based on research from the ground.

2. Review Projects

There was a request to review projects to see that there are meeting the needs of the industry.

3. The lack of strong representation on the Steering Committee

It was noted that the committee is primarily Cape Town based and not working provincially as indicated in it’s name. It is proposed that the Committee members need to be seen as professionals engaging with young people. The full capabilities of members are not being used.

4. The need to make sure that PANSA activities are transparent

Cooperation and integration are currently through emails. It is important to establish what is a professional artist.

5. The Steering Committee role is flat

The Committee should be representative to address local issues. There is a need for integration and co-operation to bring about new solutions and make things easier.

6. The need for cultural exchanges rather than lectures

Given referred to the West End 5 process where the Bristish Council sponsored artists from Europe to give lectures. He proposed that we need exchanges rather than being told what to do. Nyanga has many professional artists that do not approach organizations because they do not think that they will be taken seriously

7. Need for community based co-operation

With reference to the moral generation movement it was noted that there is a lack of co-operative work which brings black and white artists together. There is a lack of mentorship-in-residence ad field working. There was a call to look at the examples of Barney Simon and Athol Fugard where productions were created from the ground.

8. International Theatre Institute

Yvette Hardie informed the meeting that there have been discussions concerning the establishment of a South African branch of the institute which fosters research, festivals, the archiving of material around the theatre and the use of the arts as a medium of social change and conflict resolution. She proposed that PANSA would be an ideal lead organization for the establishment of a centre and asked that the incoming Provincial Steering Committee consider taking on this role.

9. Professional Representation of Performing Artists

Kurt Egelhof referred to the establishment of the Creative Workers Union of South Africa to look to the needs of the creative industries. His concern is that their focus is more on the technical personnel in the industry and that there is no representation for the artists which is a different form of creativity. He proposed that there is a need to ensure that the function and identity of the performing artist does not get lost in the business of a union. Brian Heydenrch noted that CWUSA is holding a meeting at Cosatu House in Salt River on 2 May 2010.

Election of the Provincial Steering Committee

Brian Heydenrych read out the list of names of people who were prepared to serve on the Committee. Mzi Vava, nominated by Ukhona Malandu-Letsika, has agreed to accept nomination to the committee as a new member. Nicolette Moses nominated Kurt Egelhof who declined nomination. Erica Glyn-Jones nominated Ayanda Mpono who declined nomination. Erica Glyn-Jones nominated Yusrah Bardien who declined nomination as she is currently employed by PANSA. Tanya Surtees nominated Sascha Egelhof who accepted nomination. It was noted that the Committee has the authority to nominate members throughout the year as necessary.

Erica Glyn-Jones informed the meeting of the expectations of the Provincial Steering Committee mebers:

There are quarterly meetings that members have to attend which address the issues affecting the organization.

There are five sub committees. Members are expected to serve on at least one committee which meet between the above meetings

Members will be consulted on relevant issues

Members can be

As there were no objections to the nominations presented to the committee, the list of people was elected as the Western Cape Provincual Steering Committee for 2010/2011. The members of the Provincial Steering Committee are:

Deon Lotz, Erica Glyn-Jones, Given Jikwana, Karen Jeynes, Mzi Vava, Sascha Egelhof, Theo Ndindwa, Yvette Hardie

Election of the Chairperson

Ukhona Mlandu-letsika was elected as the Chairperson for the 2010/2011 year. Tanya Surtees was thanked for the work that she had done for PANSA during the 6 years that she has served on the Committee tgether with the support from her company FTH:K. she has been a huge inspiration and will be sorely missed. The outgoing committee was thanked for their contribution during the past year.

Clsore

The meeting was closed at 20h30.