Freedom Park organisational structure

The Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) report that Freedom Park briefed the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture on their organisational structure on 31 August 2011.

Summary of the proceedings.

As Freedom Park’s structure was designed to support its strategy, it was important to outline the institution’s strategic objectives so that its structure could be seen in context. These objectives were to position the Park as a symbol of national identity by 2011 among 70% of the target groups; to establish a mechanism to promote, protect and preserve indigenous knowledge systems by 2011; to create a conducive environment in order to attract, engage and retain effective, knowledgeable talent; to manage the Park as a financially sustainable and customer focused cultural institution; and to mobilise institutions through active partnerships with continental and international institutions, to emancipate the “African Voice.”

Unlike other museums, which dealt with the past, Freedom Park was involved with the present and the future. When the Park considered its mission, which was to promote reconciliation, social cohesion and foster better understanding, the question was how it used its heritage resources to achieve them. Its resources were the result of wide consultation across the nation, and everything in the Park reflected this, rather than the ideas of a single entity or individual. As the process of reconciliation involved admission of past wrongdoing, redress, acceptance and moving on, so the Park had identified the historical wrongdoings and used heritage resources to achieve closure. Another example of achieving the Park’s mission was the access road to the Voortrekker Monument, with the objective of cementing relationships in this area.

While it was a challenge to attract and retain researchers and specialised staff, attention was now focussed on the Universities of Venda and North-West, which were the only two institutions to offer a degree in indigenous knowledge systems.

The Chairperson, supported by members of the Committee, expressed strong criticism of the presentation – both in its format and its lack of detail – and the institution was advised that it would be recalled for a further presentation so that all the information sought by the Committee could be provided.

To read the full minutes of the meeting, listen to an audio recording, or to view the presentation, see the PMG website.

Source: Parliamentary Monitoring Group

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