Question NW745 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
29 March 2023 - NW745
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1)(a).What are the criteria to receive funding from the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra (MNPO), (b)(i) how and (ii) where do entities apply for funding and (c) who is responsible for deciding on what entity receives funding; 2) what total (a) amount and (b) percentage of the MNPO budget is allocated towards administration. (3) (a) on what basis did the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Orchestra receive money and (b) were other youth orchestras not accommodated; (4) with regard to the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, on what date did the departmental policy change to accommodate the MNPO as a distributing agency to contribute to the funding of regional professional orchestras?
Reply:
(1) Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra board established an Artistic Planning Committee which advises the board on the funding of orchestral entities. The Artistic Planning Committee used their vast knowledge of the field to identify potential candidate entities for funding. It then conducted a closed call whereby identified institutions are either awarded grants or invited to apply.
(2) In terms of the contract between the National Arts Council of South Africa and Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, (a) and (b) an amount, which is 25% of the budget is spent towards operations which include administration and corporate marketing.
(4) The KZN Youth Orchestra received money along with the other 38 organisations that were funded by Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra in various provinces of South Africa, see the attached list.
(5) Organisations do not have to be distributing agencies in order to contribute funding to artistic entities. In addition, Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra is distributing funds to regional orchestras, youth orchestras and educational and community initiatives as part of its agreement with the National Arts Council of SA.
The Orchestral funds are now being distributed to at least 7 provinces in SA other than just the main cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban which was the pattern before the national orchestra was established.