After the democratic elections of April 1994 in South Africa, a new Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology was established, the first of its kind in the history of the country. The Minister has appointed an Arts and Culture Task Group (ACTAG) to formulate proposals for a new arts and culture policy, after wide and intensive consultation, workshops and public hearings, taking into account numerous submissions from the arts community, professional bodies, the academic sphere and civil society. The proposals, contained in a Report presented to the Minister on 31st July 1995, centred on an envisaged National Arts and Culture Council, complemented by three autonomous bodies: a National Film Institute, a National Heritage Council and a National Council for Libraries and Information.