THE National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) is facing a bleak financial  future after serving for seven months  without a substantive board of directors.

NAGN Director, Joseph Madisia said  the unavailability of a substantive board at the state owned institution has seen it failing to meet some of its goals.
Madisia blamed the Ministry of Youths, National Service, Sport and Culture for failing to appoint  a substantive board NAGN saying this has plunged their balance sheet into the red.
He added that NAGN has also been rocked by in-house management squabbles as most of the staff members are now taking advantage of the unavailability of the board  to advance their interest.
Madisia said some of the managers at the institution have been bypassing  procedures and making decisions they are not entitled to because no one can question them.
He added that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youths, National Service, Sports and Culture, Dr Piengeondjabi Shipo, who also doubles as one of the  directors at NAGN has been dragging his feet on the approval of a substantive board.
Madisia said NAGN forwarded two letters to the Ministry in June and August this year  requesting  urgent appointment of the board but nothing has been done yet.
He also said the ministry has been avoiding making decisions on real issues affecting NAGN which is registered as a State Owned Enterprise but has been blaming management at the institution about  petty issues.
Madisia said  NAGN postponed several art shows this year because of financial shortcomings and they are not certain who should be addressing  their concern.
Some of the documents in Informante’s  possession show that the board of directors at the NAGN which should be constituted by not les than five  people or more than seven people currently has two and has met once this year  instead of the required three times.
Responding to the issue  Dr Shipo said the NAGN does not have the power to   appoint  the board and should not  force the Ministry to make a decision  because the minister has the final say. Dr Shipo said the unavailability of a substantive body does not mean the NAGN should not function normally.
“We are currently handling elections but that does not mean the government should stop functioning and this is the same  for the NAGN which should continue with its duties until the substantive board is in place
However, Dr Shipo could not say  when the ministry will appoint a substantive board at the art gallery. Dr Shipo also added that he does not know that the NAGN is registered under the SOGC saying the institution is a baby of the Ministry.
 Informante is reliably informed that the NAGN is registered as a state owned enterprise. Dr Shipo said  the current depleted board of directors at NAGN   meet or decide on anything unless the Minister of Youths National Service Sports and Culture appoints a substantive board.