GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Graaff-Reinet Museum is of inestimable value to Graaff-Reinet as a public facility, research institution, tourist attraction and custodian of the heritage of the region.

Since its establishment in 1956 it has grown to become the fifth largest museum in the Eastern Cape, and one of the most visited. It has four culturally irreplaceable nineteenth century buildings in its property portfolio and wide-ranging collections of national significance in its care.

Museums, in general, have become such an important part of Graaff-Reinet’s ethos that it is virtually inconceivable to imagine the town without them.

Responsibility for the museum is vested in a formally constituted, autonomous governing body, known as the Board of Trustees, the purpose of which is to ensure the continued sustainability of the museum. As representatives of museum stakeholders, members of the Board should be appointed in a transparent manner to represent diverse backgrounds and provide a range of competencies to best serve the interests of the museum. This is an extract from the document “The Code of Conduct of a Museum Board Member “,drawn up in October 2010.

This Board of Trustees is appointed by the MEC of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, and in the past, all applications have been considered favourably.

Nominations and applications are invited for members of the community to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Graaff-Reinet Museum. Candidates, who must live within the Graaff-Reinet municipal area, need to be enthusiastic about heritage and conservation.

Currently there are nine MEC representatives on the Board, with another two representatives of the Friends of the Museum elected annually. There is also a representative from the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Cllr Asanda Mboneni, and a representative from the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality is supposed to attend, but to date, no one is attending the meetings of the Board. The Head of the Museum is automatically a member.

Those selected as members of the Board are expected to attend meetings on a regular basis and to facilitate an Annual General Meeting and the subsequent publishing of an annual report to demonstrate openness, transparency, responsibility and accountability.

Application / nomination forms are available from the office of the Head of the Museum, Anziske Kayster, at Urquhart House.

Please note that the closing date is this Friday, 7 September.

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