To create a platform where visual and performance artists can express their challenges within the art sector, the City held a public art stakeholder meeting in Woodstock on Saturday 18 March.
A panel discussion was also held, with subject matter experts speaking on different forms and aspects of public art, including fine art, murals, and busking.
The discussions focused on:
- What is currently happening in the Public Art sector in Cape Town;
- Current challenges faced within the sector;
- What are other cities and/or countries currently doing about public art;
- What assistance and/or support is needed by artists/performers;
- Recommendations and suggestions in terms of growing the Public Art sector in Cape Town
Roshana Naidoo, a community art facilitator for Baz Art, an organisation that creates engagement and marketing content through urban art, says some of the challenges artists face is the City of Cape Town’s public art bylaws.
“Public art permits are taking too long to circulate. There are many steps that one must go through to get approval from the City for painting a mural.”
Naidoo calls on the local government to work with art organisations.
“The department of arts and culture and the City must lean more on organisations that are equipped with the resources to not only run the city’s public art but also to run those kinds of initiatives and programmes.”
Naidoo says during the Baz Art International Public Art Festival earlier this month, they held a five-day public art conference where “real-life issues” around public art were discussed.
She appeals for more of these types of platforms.
“The City should look at outsourcing strategic meetings to people that are in art organisations and that have more input around these topics. This will create more value for the city and for the people.”
Naidoo says most artists do not feel supported.
“There is a need for more of these kinds of engagements, but it has to be backed up by the City of Cape Town’s invested interest in fixing those issues or at least trying to make us understand why those policies are in place.”
Patricia van der Ross, the City’s Mayco member for community services and health, says culture is essential to creating a more welcoming, integrated and innovative city.
“The way culture is experienced through public art is an effective way of harnessing its power. Through its various forms, public art can beautify the immediate environment, transform public spaces, raise the quality of public facilities, and increase public awareness of topical issues.”
She says by engaging with the sector in this way, they can foster a spirit of collaboration and consensus on this important issue.
