Cartels target SA museums

2003-04-01 14:18

Cape Town - International cartels were targeting South African museums in order to steal valuable collections, MPs heard on Tuesday from the South African Museum Association (Sama).

"South Africa has some of the world's best collections and one of the threats identified is international cartels targeting the country's museums," said Sama president Rooksana Omar.

Omar was briefing the portfolio committee on arts, culture, science and technology on transformation at museums.

She said transformation related to more than just changing the demographic profiles of staff, but included mentorship programmes, training, public-private partnerships and research.

"Museums find themselves in a dire situation," said Omar, who identified a lack of finances and human resources as one of the main obstacles to transformation.

She said it was difficult for the 400 Sama museums to retain their collections and art works, because the "market was outpriced" with particularly the smaller museums unable to afford to keep their works in the country.

"If we want vibrant and provocative exhibitions, we need more money and resources... The issue of governance regarding smaller district museums and provincial authorities must also be resolved speedily."

The absence of a national audit of the country's collections of art works was also hampering transformation.

"It is the Department of Arts and Culture's business to conduct this national audit. A national audit must also be conducted of the human remains in museums, medical schools and universities... an enormous and complex process."

Omar said that Sama would consider becoming a statutory body.

Other possible ways of improving the state of the country's museums included establishing a lobby group to advise the department of arts and culture, a peer review group to evaluate museums, and automatic representation of Sama on the National Heritage Council.

Sama is not a member of the heritage council.

- SAPA