Johannesburg - The Department of Arts and Culture has invested R5 million towards a project which will create opportunities for art legends to continue to have viable careers.
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said the strategic objective of the Living Legends Legacy Project is to ensure that there is transference of skills, knowledge and experience to the younger generation, while at the same time creating opportunities for the legends to continue to have a career in the arts sector.
“We believe that our living human treasures, the legends, have a fundamental role to play in assisting aspirant artists to hone their skills.
“We would like to see these legends playing a bigger role in offering master classes and providing mentorship to the youth as part of our incubator programmes,” Minister Mthethwa said on Tuesday.
He was speaking in Johannesburg during the launch of the Living Legends Legacy Project and Heritage Month, which will be celebrated under the theme “Our indigenous knowledge, our heritage: Towards the identification, promotion and preservation of South African’s living heritage”.
One of the living legends, Susan Sellschop, expressed her excitement for the project.
“I think this is an excellent project. R5 milllion is a jolly good start. I think that it is important that the skills of the living legends must not be lost,” Sellschop said.
The 73-year-old woman is a potter and painter.
Founder of the Moving Into Dance Company, Sylvia Glasser, is positive about the investment for the living legends.
“I feel honoured to be at this gathering with the living icons. I am deeply moved by it,” Glasser said.
Minister Mthethwa said the department will ensure that at the beginning of the next financial year, the seed fund for the project will be R20 million.
“We want you to develop your own programmes; we do not want our icons to be beggars,” he said.
The department was also encouraging the business sector to contribute towards the project.
“Our ultimate objective is to provide continued support and increase the Living Legends economic beneficiation prospects.
“We are merely balancing the scales of justice to ensure mutual beneficiation and stimulate a dynamic cross-generational interaction among the practioners in the arts, culture and heritage sector.”
The future plans for the project included the establishment of Ministerial Awards to recognise and honour the living legends for their work in various disciplines.
Living Legends Benefit concerts will be held and proceeds will go towards the Living Legends Trust Fund.
Also there will be a publication of the Book of Mzansi Legends and a production of documentaries to document the entire body of work and trace the artistic journey of the selected legends.
“It is through the work of these icons that we are able to get international organisations, civil society movements and different nations across the globe to pledge solidarity and support the world-wide anti-apartheid movement,” Minister Mthethwa said.
South African jazz singer Letta Mbulu said the legends needed to make sure that a collective effort is made to ensure they all leave a solid legacy which will be remembered by their children. – SAnews.gov.za
