July 4, 2006
By Lucille Davie
TWO years after the City introduced the concept of an art bank, a CEO who is eager to roll up her sleeves and acquire more art for the City, has been appointed.
Antoinette Murdoch was appointed CEO two weeks ago by the Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage, and with a budget of R5,5-million for the next four years, she will be approaching artists to boost the bank's archives.
The aim of the bank is to hire the artworks out to corporate clients, at the same time offering them the full service of assessing what their needs are, hanging the artworks in their offices, and updating their collections on a bi-annual or annual basis.
Murdoch says she is about to visit 10 potential clients, find out what their requirements are, then scout the market to acquire artworks to suit their needs.
"We will be launching the art bank in September or October," says Murdoch. "The aim is to uplift Johannesburg and encourage economic development of the city." The theme for the launch will be Johannesburg and, in an effort to support established and emerging local artists, only Joburg artists will be commissioned.
The art bank has so far acquired 150 artworks from 100 artists. The purchase of these works was sponsored by the City's economic development unit and the department of arts, culture and heritage, in whose offices they have found a home.
Artworks have been acquired from the Bag Factory, Artists' Proof Studio, Artists under the Sun and from street children working through a Hillbrow organisation called Little Artists. Some of the city's more well-known artists will be represented: Diane Victor, Richman Buthelezi, Erica Hibbert and Johan Moolman.
Edward Selamela's The Gathering
Murdoch has been an exhibiting artist for the past 10 years, and has taught fine art at a tertiary institution in Rosebank. She is in the process of completing her masters degree in fine art at Wits University. She was previously manager of the Johannesburg Civic Gallery at the Civic Theatre, which has become The Premises art gallery.
An art bank website has been created, where artists' work can be viewed and clients can find contact details.
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