Children’s theatre director Yvette Hardie appointed new Chairperson of STAND Foundation
She replaces widely travelled choreographer Gregory Maqoma
By CityLIfe Arts Writer
Children’s theatre exponent Yvette Hardie has been appointed to the position of chairperson of STAND Foundation, a Non Profit Organisation focussing on the development of theatre and dance in the country.
“The Sustaining Theatre and Dance (STAND) Foundation is proud to announce that Yvette Hardie, who served as Deputy Chairperson of the Board of STAND Foundation from its inception on 1 September 2020, has assumed the position of Chairperson of the Board.
With effect from 1 January 2023, Hardie replaces STAND Foundation’s founding Chairperson, Gregory Maqoma, who will continue to serve as a member of the Board, but whose work increasingly requires him to travel abroad for extensive periods,” announced the organisation yesterday, January 26, 2023.
Hardie, who herself has deep international experience and networks having served for ten years as the President of ASSITEJ International – the Association of Theatre for Children and Young People – is the Director of ASSITEJ South Africa and the former Deputy Chairperson of Im4theArts.
“The STAND Board has an excellent combination of experience and youthful energy, and I’m delighted to continue to serve on the Board under the leadership of Yvette” said Gregory Maqoma, outgoing Chairperson.
At its first meeting of 2023, the Board of STAND Foundation agreed to a range of national projects to be implemented in addition to the projects related to the Western Cape Community Arts Centres Development Programme that are funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture with STAND as the implementing agent to name a few.
Having returned from a three-month residency in Berlin, STAND’s original coordinator, Mike van Graan, will continue to play this role for the foreseeable future until a suitable long-term successor is recruited.
About STAND Foundation
The Sustaining Theatre and Dance (STAND) Foundation was launched in September 2020 as a response to the devastating impact that the lockdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic was having on theatre and dance and on those who sought to make their livelihoods within this sector. Its support comes from individual patrons, corporate and international donors and from independent producers. Its projects are aimed at providing short-term opportunities for practitioners to earn income and to improve their skills, and in the medium-to-long-term to secure a policy, funding and infrastructural framework that would support an impactful and sustainable contemporary performing arts practice.
The current Board comprises Yvette Hardie, Greg Maqoma, Ismail Mahomed, Lesego van Niekerk, Saartjie Botha, Musa Hlatshwayo, Mxolisi Masilela, Lakin Morgan-Baatjies, Advocate Jean Meiring and Mike van Graan.