International call to stop the closure of Irma Stern Museum and protect Irma Stern’s legacy.
We call on the Irma Stern™ Trust to provide transparency and accountability regarding the future of Irma Stern’s The Firs and the Collections.
Irma Stern bequeathed in her will that on her death in 1966, her collections (which included her own artworks as well as all artefacts) were to be administered by a Committee of Trustees. These same Trustees entered an administrative agreement with UCT on the 11th of June 1969. The agreement resulted in Irma Stern’s home, The Firs, opening in 1972 as the Irma Stern Museum.
For the last 50 years, the Irma Stern™ Trust and the University of Cape Town (UCT) have run The Firs as the Irma Stern Museum. The same Trust agreement provides for the return of the property (The Firs) to the Irma Stern™ Trust under the same conditions that allowed UCT to acquire it in 1969. Upon dissolution of this management agreement, the Irma Stern™ Trust receives the property back for R1.00 plus costs.
The dissolution of this agreement was announced in a press release issued jointly by UCT and the Marketing Department of the Irma Stern™ Trust.
In a sale of 124 Irma Stern™ Trust works via the June 2022 Strauss & Co sale, R24 million was raised. The proceeds were earmarked for the restoration of The Firs and conservation of the artworks.
We would like to know from the Stern Trust the following:
1. Where did all the R24 million proceeds go after the sale? How much was spent on administration and payment of dividends? How much does the Trust hold in assets and money today?
2. Is the House and estate still in the Trusts name, or has all or parts sold off, if so how does the Trust explain that it was beneficial to Stern’s will?
3. Furthermore, what are the Trust’s future plans to promote the life and legacy of Irma Stern, which includes Stern’s home and estate?
4. No artwork or collection is to leave the Museum until SAHRA, HWC, and the Department of Arts and Culture resolve the matter.
5. That the Irma Stern™ Trust undertakes to renovate and restore The Firs/Irma Stern Museum to the highest Conservation standard so that the Irma Stern Museum once again can welcome back visitors and safely accommodate the Irma Stern™ Collection administered by the Irma Stern™ Trust.
We also call upon The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton Mackenzie, the Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Mr Ricardo Mackenzie, the Mayor of Cape Town, Mr Geordin Lewis- Hill, the Cape Town Heritage Foundation and as many Art, Culture, Heritage aficionados and supporters of the Irma Stern Museum to sign and share this Petition.
The goal of this petition is to hold the Irma Stern™ Trust accountable and foster due process and public participation regarding the future of the Irma Stern Museum (The Firs) and the Irma Stern™ Trust collections.
Please Sign the Petition:
Go to
https://www.change.org/
For further information, questions and support email Gabriel editor@arttimes.co.za.
