Minister Anroux Marais' Speech at Hugenote Museum Exhibition Launch

WESTERN CAPE MINISTER OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPORT, ANROUX MARAIS

EXHIBITION LAUNCH: HUGENOTE MUSEUM

12 APRIL 2019

Good afternoon, goeiedag, molweni nonke,

It gives me great pleasure to address you at this very significant launch of the new exhibition at the Hugenote Memorial Museum in Franschhoek today. Making the launch all the more special is that it coincides with the 331^st anniversary of the Hugenotes’ arrival in the Cape.

At the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) we are committed to building inclusive communities through the expansion of our museum services’ offerings by addressing previously hidden narratives. Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. This exhibition will indeed raise awareness on the once untold story while creating a sense of belonging to all descendants who now call the Western Cape home.

I take this opportunity to thank all who had a hand in the launching of this very important exhibition, particularly the Hugenote-Vereniging van Suid-Afrika and the Hugenote Gedenkmuseum. Together, we are in the business of building a nation, inspiring hope and motivating better versions of those we serve not only through sport, but through cultural manifestation and creating an enabling environment in which it can flourish. The famous author, screenwriter, and film director, Michael Crichton once highlighted the importance of history by saying, “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree”. Nobody understands the importance of history and heritage more than the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. It is for this very reason that the we welcome this new exhibition as it forms part of our ongoing efforts to promote, transform and highlight the crucial role heritage and museums play in our communities.  It also affords us the opportunity to highlight the important work they do in our communities through the management, preservation, research, education and promotion of museum collections in their care.

In closing, always remember, any museum can invite you to look, a great one changes the way you see.

I thank you