Minister of arts and culture Dr Ben Ngubane recently announced the formation of the national board for the State Theatre in Pretoria.

In looking at the future of the State Theatre, the Board has been asked to review policy for the performing arts and build on the existing framework, such as the 1996 White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage. This comes in light of the challenges facing theatres and performing arts companies and organisations around the country in a context that has changed fundamentally since 1994.

The new Board involves key officials of the Department (DACST) as well as representatives of the National Arts Council (NAC), Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT). It brings a broad range of skills and experience to the table with business, community arts, policy and performing arts expertise as well as representation by managers of successful private- and state-funded theatres. Board members have extensive links and commitment to the arts community across the spectrum and are integrally involved in ensuring its development to the benefit of the country.

Under the chairmanship of Welcome Msomi, board members include KZN arts personalities Bongani Tembe (director of the KZN Philharmonic); Edmund Radebe (chairman of the Playhouse Company board) and Jay Pather, choreographer and director of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre. Other members are Walter Chakela, Doreen Nteta, Christopher Seabrooke, Mike van Graan, Mannie Manim, Themba Wakashe, Carol Steinberg and Sikkie Kajee.