PANSA (The Performing Arts Network of South Africa) has launched an ambitious project - to create a comprehensive national database on the performing arts within the next four months.

The database will have detailed information on all performing arts practitioners - South African-based and South Africans working abroad as well as international people working here (dancers, writers, actors, directors, musicians etc). Also listed will be administrators; technicians; designers and service providers as well as educators; companies; organisations and educational institutions in the performing arts sector.

"Such a database is long overdue and is vital for networking and marketing purposes," said Mike van Graan, Cape-Town based interim chairperson of PANSA.

This important project has been made possible by the generous financial support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy. The head of press and cultural affairs at the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Ms Margriet Leemhuis indicated that the provision of funds for this project was a further investment in the vibrant cultural life of South Africa. "We trust that the database will have positive spin-offs for South African artists," said Ms Leemhuis.

A team of arts administrators around the country will be working on the database to ensure that the information gathered will be accurate and far-reaching.

All those connected to the performing arts are strongly encouraged to list themselves on, and to encourage their colleagues to market themselves and their works through the national database which will include a list of plays, operas, dance and other performance pieces produced professionally since 1994.

Registration may take place by downloading, completing and returning forms available from PANSA's website at http://www.artslink.co.za/pansa or by e-mailing a request to pansa@artslink.co.za or by contacting local representatives for forms to be faxed, e-mailed or posted. The KZN representative is Illa Thompson on Tel/fax 031 261-5518 or pubmat@iafrica.com

The national database will be available on PANSA's website hosted by Artslink.co.za from 1 June 2002.