In a statement addressing the issue of Marieke Prinsloo-Rowe’s sculptures, on the Sea Point Promenade, DA Councillor JP Smith has stated: '[w]e have invited ANY other artists to exhibit their art on the Promenade'. The statement was made when the councilor was responding to questions concerning Prinsloo-Rowe’s work Walking the Road. In an article last month the artist and critic Linda Stupart raised questions as to why only the economically empowered seemed to have exclusive rights to show their work on the most frequented public...

In a statement addressing the issue of Marieke Prinsloo-Rowe’s sculptures, on the Sea Point Promenade, DA Councillor JP Smith has stated: '[w]e have invited ANY other artists to exhibit their art on the Promenade'. The statement was made when the councilor was responding to questions concerning Prinsloo-Rowe’s work Walking the Road. In an article last month the artist and critic Linda Stupart raised questions as to why only the economically empowered seemed to have exclusive rights to show their work on the most frequented public space in Cape Town.

The issue arose when an announcement was made that the exhibition of Prinsloo-Rowe’s work would be extended for another two years. It seems that it was only after this that questions were raised as to how Prinsloo-Rowe’s work had been selected in the first place. Following this Stupart published an article on Mahala’s website questioning why the right to exhibit work publicly only seemed accessible to the rich. This was shortly followed by several attacks of vandalism on the works themselves. In response to this vandalism Mr. Smith threatened that it had been 'agreed amongst ourselves' that the sculptures would not be moved 'for a minimum period of 6 months after any instance of vandalism – every time they are vandalised, the date will be reset and a new period of 6 months will start running'.

Smith clarified how the sculptures had originally found their way onto the Promenade, saying that they had been donated by the artist to the city and that the artist had made the proviso that she would be solely responsible for their upkeep and maintenance. He went on to state that, '[a]s there was no City-wide selection panel or anything like that, I took it (in consultation with the City’s Arts and Culture Department) to…a statutory body consisting of all the local community based organisations which are nominated and elected through a public process. They were unanimous in their support for the artwork installation by Prinsloo (she even brought a full-scale sample to the meeting for them to see)'. He also confirmed that the rumours of nepotism surrounding the works selection were entirely without veracity stating that, 'I am not aware of any relationship, family or otherwise, with any City officials, politicians, etc'.

When asked if any person or organization involved in the arts was used in a consultative role, he stated that he did not know what was meant by 'the arts' but that 'several of the local community based organisations have members and relatives on their committees who are involved in “the arts” and these associations supported it'.  He did, however, go on to admit that although the Visual Arts Network of South Africa (VANSA) was consulted in the case of Kevin Brand’s sculptures - that have been installed further down the promenade – they were not in the case of Prinsloo-Rowe’s.

Smith stated that there was an imperative to develop a public arts policy in Cape Town but that sadly, to date, this has not taken place. He also reiterated that until then the City has made the offer public that, like Prinsloo-Rowe, 'ANY and ALL artists who would be interested' can display their work publicly, 'as long as it does not cost the City anything and they undertake their own maintenance'.