Artscape Theatre CEO, Dr Marlene le Roux, has called on the public to support the country’s artists, particularly during this time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit hard on the arts industry.

According to EWN, Le Roux said that artists were just as important as doctors and teachers when it came to COVID-19 compensation.

“Artists are just as important as important as doctors and teachers in our communities. If we lose the soul of our nation, we lose our community,” Le Roux was quoted as saying.

Her sentiments came just a few days after Cape Town artists gathered at the theatre centre to protest over the management of the COVID-19 relief fund.

The artists claimed that funds meant to offer them relief had been mismanaged.

They demanded answers from the National Arts Council (NAC), as they questioned the council’s allocation of the R300 million handed over as part of the Presidential stimulus package (PESP) last year, News24 said.

The artists had since stepped up the pressure for the Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa to resign over the matter, EWN reported on Thursday. 

They accused NAC for missing the deadline to pay COVID-19 relief funds.

“So they’re channeling the money out that’s supposed to go to artists that’s going where? That’s the question. Where is the money going? What’s their job? What should they be doing differently? Their job. They should be doing their jobs not making a mess because this is a mess,” Sibongile Mngoma, an opera singer was quoted as saying. 

PICTURE: Cape Town etc gallery

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