Performing Arts Councils

Origins

Conceived in 1961, and intended to replace the embattled and struggling National Theatre Organisation (NTO) in 1963. The proposal was made in the report of the De Bruyn Committee, appointed in 1961 to invesitgate the management and finances of NTO.

Founding

In 1963 by the Minister of Education, Arts and Science, Dr Jan de Klerk, thus formally proclaimed the intitution of the four new Performing Arts Councils (PACs), one for each of the four provinces: the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB), the Natal Performing Arts Council (NAPAC), the Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State (PACOFS) and the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT). In 1966 a fifth was added, namely the South West Africa Performing Arts Board (SWAPAC – Later to change it name to the Namibian National Theatre?*).

Aims and management

Their commission was to work towards the advancement of the performing arts on a professional basis within their designated regions. Unlike NTO these councils would not be responsible only for drama, but would also provide ballet, music and opera. The councils were initially centrally subsidised by the state, but hten later legislation was created to allow provincial subsidies to also be awarded.

The South African Committee of Performing Arts Councils (SACPAC)

At one stage the PACs sought to to undertake co-ordinated joint projects under an umbrella body called the South African Committee of Performing Arts Councils (SACPAC). (Two of these projects were the short-lived SACPAC Playwriting Competition and the SACPAC Honnours Awards)

For more information

See further under the names of the individual PACs:

Cape Performing Arts Board

Natal Performing Arts Council

Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State

Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal

South West Africa Performing Arts Board

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