Media Statement: For immediate release 29 SEPTEMBER 2026
The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC), in partnership with the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (ECPACC), is pleased to announce the National Arts Council and Provincial Arts and Culture Councils Engagement, taking place from 1–2 October 2026 in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
The engagement marks a significant milestone in strengthening cooperation between the National Arts Council and Provincial Arts and Culture Councils (PACCs) across South Africa. It will bring together the NAC and the leadership of Provincial Arts and Culture Councils to establish a coordinated approach to arts development, strengthen intergovernmental relations, promote the sharing of best practices, and build a sustainable framework for ongoing collaboration.
As the first national engagement of its kind, the platform seeks to establish a structured working relationship between the NAC and PACCs that will enhance strategic alignment, improve programme coordination, and support a more integrated approach to arts funding and development across all provinces. In support of this objective, key government and sector stakeholders, including the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the South African Creative Industries Organisation (SACO), and representatives from the creative and cultural industries, will participate in selected discussions to provide insights and strengthen collaborative efforts.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Sector Coordination and Alignment,” the engagement supports the NAC’s strategic objective to provide thought leadership, advocacy, and policy direction on matters concerning arts and culture. While the NAC and Provincial Arts and Culture Councils operate within different legislative mandates and spheres of government, they share a common responsibility to advance the growth and development of South Africa’s arts sector. The engagement therefore provides an important platform to strengthen institutional relationships, improve coordination, and promote greater alignment in planning, programme implementation, and sector development.
Over the course of two days, delegates will participate in strategic discussions focusing on governance, programme delivery, funding approaches, sector development, and institutional collaboration. Participants will share provincial experiences, benchmark best practices, identify common challenges, and explore practical interventions to improve coordination and maximise the impact of public investment in the arts. A key area of discussion will be the feasibility of a standardised NAC-supported provincial programme framework to align strategic priorities, programmes, outputs, and performance indicators from the 2027/28 financial year onwards.
The engagement is expected to produce several strategic outcomes, including an agreed approach to strengthen collaboration between the NAC and Provincial Arts and Culture Councils, recommendations to improve programme coordination and funding approaches, strategies to expand access to arts and culture opportunities in rural, township, and underserved communities, and an implementation roadmap to guide future collaboration and accountability.
Ultimately, the National Arts Council and Provincial Arts and Culture Councils Sector Engagement represents an important step towards establishing a coordinated national approach to arts development. By strengthening institutional alignment, fostering collaboration, and creating mechanisms for ongoing engagement, the initiative will contribute to a more cohesive, responsive, and sustainable arts ecosystem that advances South Africa’s creative and cultural industries while delivering greater impact for artists and communities across all provinces.
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Media Enquiries: media@nac.org.za
Issued by the National Arts Council of South Africa
