WATCH | KZN artists stage coffin protest over ‘death’ of arts industry

Artists warn Friday’s 'coffin picket' only the beginning, with plans to intensify protest action if demands are not met.

May 9, 2026

Andiswa Mchunu 2 minutes read

KZN artists hold 'coffin picket' outside The Playhouse Company in Durban on Friday Photo: Supplied

KZN artists staged a dramatic protest outside The Playhouse Company in Durban on Friday, carrying coffins to symbolise what they describe as the ‘death’ of the arts sector.

As reported by The Witness, the protest, led by the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) KZN and a concerned artists’ task team, marks an escalation in a long-running dispute over funding models, governance and the sustainability of artistic programming in the province.

The group is demanding the removal of the Playhouse board and management, as well as urgent intervention from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), accusing both of ongoing mismanagement and failure to address industry concerns.

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Artists gathered outside the institution’s Durban premises, saying repeated engagements with both Playhouse leadership and the department had failed to resolve what they describe as systemic challenges in the performing arts sector.

CCIFSA KZN provincial secretary Howard Msomi said the industry had reached breaking point, and added that despite ongoing efforts to engage both the Playhouse board and DSAC, artists had been ignored.

“All these efforts have proved to have reached earless people,” he said.

At the centre of the dispute is the Playhouse’s ‘in-association’ production model and how funding is allocated.

Artists argue that too little of the institution’s R57m operational budget is directed towards actual artistic programming.

They say the model places disproportionate financial risk on independent producers while allowing the institution to retain a share of box office revenue.

However, Playhouse Company chairperson Khwezi Kunene defended the institution’s approach, saying it reflects broader national funding constraints.

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In recent years, such funding has become seriously scarce. As a result, The Playhouse Company is finding itself not able to fulfil its desired outcomes.

He explained that under the current model, producers retain 70% of box office income, while the institution takes 30%, adding that this structure is consistent with other performing arts entities.

Kunene also defended the organisation’s governance structure, including the merging of the chief executive officer and artistic director roles, describing it as a cost-saving measure common in the sector.

He added that the institution has maintained clean audits for the past 15 years.

Despite the standoff, Kunene said the Playhouse remains open to further engagement with industry stakeholders.

But artists have warned that Friday’s picket is only the beginning, with plans to intensify protest action if their demands for structural reform, funding realignment and leadership changes are not met.