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The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) says its council has been dissolved with immediate effect following formal communication from the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture.
In a media statement issued on 26 May 2026, the NAC confirmed it had received correspondence from Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie informing the organisation that the council was being dissolved in terms of Section 5(5) of the National Arts Council Act, 1997.
The announcement marks a major development for South Africa’s arts and culture sector, as the NAC plays a central role in funding and supporting artists, cultural organisations, and creative projects across the country.
According to the statement, the dissolution applies immediately.
The NAC said it “respects and acknowledges” the minister’s decision and added that the organisation remains committed to maintaining operational stability during the transition period.
“The Acting Chief Executive Officer, together with executive management, will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organisation,” the statement said.
The council also said it would continue working with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to ensure “the uninterrupted implementation” of its programmes and services.
At this stage, the ministry has not publicly released detailed reasons for the dissolution of the council.
It also remains unclear whether a new council will be appointed soon or whether any existing funding processes, grant applications, or arts programmes could be affected.
This has not been confirmed.
The NAC said further updates would be communicated as developments unfold.
The development is likely to draw close attention from artists, cultural practitioners, theatres, community arts organisations, and funding applicants across South Africa — including in the Eastern Cape, where many local creatives rely on national arts funding opportunities and cultural support programmes.
Local impact is not yet clear.
The National Arts Council is one of South Africa’s key public arts funding institutions and has historically supported projects in music, theatre, dance, literature, heritage, and community arts development.
