By Levy Masiteng
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has hit back at what he described as “misinformation, misdirection and insult” following his decision to cancel the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s (DSAC) working agreement with Art Periodic for South Africa’s participation at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
McKenzie insisted that no government funding was withdrawn and that the move was necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty and reputation.
In a media statement, he said reports suggesting that DSAC had pulled funding from the exhibition were incorrect.
“It is incorrect to report that DSAC has withdrawn any funding from Art Periodic in staging an exhibition at the 2026 Venice Biennale,” McKenzie said.
“The agreement between DSAC and Art Periodic was to make our exhibition space available to Art Periodic to promote the work of a South African artist or artists at the exhibition, with the rental of space
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