The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the creative sector. It has also reflected just how marginalized the arts are within our society. One of the positive things to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic though is the level of organization within the arts community along with a greater sense of agency by creatives. Against this backdrop, Im4theArts and Theatre and Dance Alliance (TADA) are jointly leading a campaign to affirm and assert the rights of artists in the South African context. To this end, a CHARTER OF RIGHTS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS has been drafted, and the first phase of this campaign is to popularize the Charter within the arts community and to have as many artists as possible express their support for the Charter. This will provide the organisers with a sound mandate to pursue the rights contained in the Charter and to make them a reality. Thus far, a number of well-known artists across all disciplines have expressed their support for the Charter. They include Basil Appollis, Bianca Amato, Chantal Herman, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, Concord Nkabinde, Fiona Ramsay, Gregory Maqoma, Jack Devnarain, Katlego Chale, Lizz Meiring, Louis Viljoen, Mbongeni N. Mtshali, Mpho J. Molepo, Neil Coppen, Saartjie Botha, Sibongile Mngoma, Siphokazi Jonas, Sylvaine Strike, Thami Mbongo, Thoko Ntshinga and Vincent Mantsoe. We plan to launch the Campaign for the Charter of Artists’ Rights on Wednesday 28 July 2021. This is to invite you to express your support for the Charter. You may do so by clicking on the link at the end of the Charter as attached. The campaign is being coordinated by a committee whose members include Yvette Hardie, Mike van Graan, Thami Mbongo, Lesego van Niekerk, Andrico Goosen, Bryan Schimmel, Fiona Ramsay, Iain Robinson, Steven Sack, Thembalihle Mncadi and Tiisetso Mashifane, all of whom attended the first meeting of the committee. Should you have any questions, you are welcome to raise them with anyone on the committee. Please read through the Charter and express your support as soon as possible, but no later than Friday 23 July 2021. We encourage you to forward this email invitation and Charter to at least 5 others whom you think would be interested. We will change our sector for the better by working together. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE CHARTER OF ARTISTS’ RIGHTS |
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