Mike van Graan
Mike van Graan is the president of the African Cultural Policy Network and an associate professor of drama at the University of Cape Town. Professionally, he works as a consultant in the arts and culture arena, while also serving on UNESCO’s technical facility for the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Creatively, he works as a playwright and has written 30 plays to date, most of which interrogate the post-apartheid condition. In recognition of his work, he is the 2018 recipient of the Hiroshima Foundation for Peace and Culture Award, a prize previously awarded to Antjie Krog and John Kani.
Human rights and cultural relativism in Africa
2019-06-10"Are human rights absolute, or are they relative to cultural – including religious – beliefs and practices? The recent passing of anti-abortion laws in Alabama in the USA was done with evangelistic religious fervour, with Governor Kay Ivey stating that the passing of the law was a 'powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God'."
We are a country in waiting
2018-02-08"The postponement of SONA is a metaphor for where we are as a country. We are a country in waiting. The dreams of 1994 and our hopes as citizens have been deferred. Again."
US Woordfees 2016 interview: Rainbow Scars by Mike van Graan
2016-02-09"Scars are not only physical. Hurt – and therefore, scars – may take emotional, psychological and intellectual forms too."
#feesmustfall: Learning from protests past
2015-10-29"These divisions and the myriad of voices emanating from them, as well as the temptation to pursue more demands on the back of a major victory, present the student leadership at each institution and the collective leadership across the country with major challenges, but also with the opportunity to show what this country has been lacking for so long: leadership!"
Open Stellenbosch: Beyond the rainbow, towards a change of climate
2015-09-18"Constitutions are about the 'promised land'; ours is certainly not a magic wand that has wiped out our history and made us all equal. To achieve this 'promised land' we need to be pragmatic, generous and human in our approaches to move from where we are, from what we have inherited, to what we would collectively like to be."
Artists unite against corruption
2015-08-12More than 650 individuals in the arts, culture and heritage sector endorsed the Unite Against Corruption campaign in less than a week.
Keelvol kunstenaars kap korrupsie
2015-08-05"Ons moedig kunstenaars aan om by die veldtog teen korrupsie betrokke te raak, omdat dit in belang van alle landsburgers en kunstenaars is dat korrupsie in die kiem gesmoor word."
kykNET-Rapport Boekpryse: Onderhoud met Mike van Graan
2014-10-16 Die kortlys van die eerste kykNET-Rapport Boekpryse is pas bekendgemaak. Mike van Graan was een van die beoordelaars van die Niefiksie-kategorie.
Impressions of contemporary South Africa through the theatre of the National Arts Festival 2014
2014-07-16 Mike van Graan shares his thoughts on the National Arts Festival in a year that marks 40 years of the festival, but more importantly, 20 years of democracy.
All the world's a stage
2014-05-28 Mike van Graan's opinion on the appointment of Nathi Mthethwa as Minster of Arts and Culture.
Clover Aardklop 2013: Mike van Graan gesels oor Gevalle engel
2013-09-17 Gevalle engel is ’n spanningsvolle menslike drama. Reney Warrington gesels met skrywer Mike van Graan.
Afrikaans, Afrikaans and not a drop of Zulu, Xhosa or Tswana to drink
2012-06-08 "Whereas Afrikaans theatre-makers are blessed with a number of festivals that are the key producers of theatre in South Africa today, there is not a single theatre festival in Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, etc that promotes, celebrates and projects professional, mainstream theatre in those – or other indigenous African – languages today." Mike van Graan responds to Albert Maritz.
Raising the Spear or dropping the ball?
2012-06-06 "The general feeling among most panellists was that, indeed, freedom of expression and other democratic freedoms and rights are under threat from the ANC and its alliance partners." The Cape Town chapter of Arterial Network South Africa hosted a forum to discuss the significance of the Spear controversy for the local arts sector.
Victims and victors: winners and losers in a post-apartheid arts dispensation
2011-11-29 Is Limpopo sucking the hind teat of arts funding in South Africa today? According to the NAC’s 2010 annual report, out of a total of 615 funded applications, Limpopo had only 33. Or maybe it was Mpumalanga with 16 projects. Or the Northern Cape, with ...