Litnet

Background

Monica Newton was born in Bloemfontein and grew up in Clarens, where her family managed the Maluti Mountain Lodge for many years. The family still own a home on a farm just outside the town. Her love of the arts was fostered by her mother, Margaret, who raised Monica and her sister, Sarah, as a single parent for most of their lives. Margaret loved reading, films, theatre, dance and music, and shared this passion actively with her daughters.

Education

Educated in the Free State, Monica matriculated from Bethlehem Voortrekker High School and completed her studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She holds a bachelor of arts degree with sociology and psychology majors, a bachelor of arts honours in industrial sociology and a master’s in sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research in support of her MA degree focused on the economics of the film distribution industry.

Career

Monica has worked with national, provincial and local government and related government agencies since 1997, as a full-time employee and as a consultant in her own business. She has been part of creative industry strategy development and research processes across the country, and has worked in the field of cultural development and the creative industries for most of her career. Prior to being appointed as the CEO of the National Arts Festival and Grahamstown Foundation, Monica was the head of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation from August 2017 to November 2019. Over her career, Monica has served numerous premiers and ministers as an executive manager in the public service, including in her following roles: deputy director-general: arts and culture promotion and development at the national Department of Arts and Culture, from April 2013 to July 2017; from January 2012 to July 2013, CEO of the National Arts Council, a statutory body reporting to the Department of Arts and Culture, established to support and develop the arts in South Africa; and chief director: socio-economic research and chief director: strategic and operational support in the Gauteng Office of the Premier, from 2008 to 2011.