Gov’t called to review National Arts Festival prizes
Friday, June 17, 2022 | 160 Views |
Regional National Arts festival exhibition PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Speaking at the National Arts Festival Regional art exhibition Wednesday, Thapong Visual Arts Centre coordinator, Reginald Bakwena called for the review of the prizes.
He lamented the low prize money awarded to the winners, stating that it has contributed to the decline in the quality of the work submitted for the competitions.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...