Public outrage over Irma Stern Museum closure: What happened to the R24 million?

The sudden closure of the Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town has sparked outrage among art lovers, heritage advocates, and members of the public, many of whom are questioning what has become of millions of rand meant for the museum’s upkeep and the preservation of one of South Africa’s most important art collections.

After more than 56 years as a cultural landmark, the museum, housed in The Firs, the home and studio of celebrated artist Irma Stern, who lived there from 1927 until her death in 1966, has officially closed its doors.

In a joint statement, the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Irma Stern™ Trust confirmed that they have ended their long-standing partnership to manage and operate the museum. 

They said the property would now be “repurposed” and that the Irma Stern Trust Collection - which includes priceless oil paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and works on paper, will be moved to “a secure archival facility.”

Heritage groups sound the alarm

The announcement immediately prompted a wave of concern on social media. 

The Facebook group “Friends of Irma Stern Museum” and a growing petition on Change.org are demanding accountability from the Trust and UCT. 

The petition, which has gathered over 5000 signatures in just two days, raises serious questions about the museum’s closure, the dissolution of the management agreement, and the future of Stern’s art and property.

The petition’s key questions

The petition references Stern’s will, which stipulated that after her death her home and collection were to be administered by a Committee of Trustees. These trustees later entered an agreement with UCT on 11 June 1969, allowing The Firs to become the Irma Stern Museum, which was officially opened in 1972.

Now, over 50 years later, that agreement has ended, returning ownership of The Firs to the Irma Stern™ Trust for R1.00 plus costs.

But critics say this transition has been poorly explained, especially after a 2022 sale of 124 artworks from the Trust’s collection raised R24 million through auction house Strauss & Co - funds earmarked for conservation of the museum.

In its open letter, the petition calls on the Trust to provide full transparency and answer these key questions:

1. Where did the R24 million in proceeds go after the 2022 sale? How much was spent on administration and dividends, and what assets and funds does the Trust currently hold?
2. Is The Firs still owned by the Trust, or has all or part of it been sold off? If so, how does this align with the intentions of Irma Stern’s will?
3. What are the Trust’s future plans to preserve and promote the artist’s legacy — including the museum, the estate, and her artworks?
4. Will the artworks remain in South Africa until the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), Heritage Western Cape (HWC) and the National Department of Arts, Culture and Sport have reviewed and resolved the matter?

A call for accountability

Petition organisers and heritage activists are urging the Trust to commit to restoring and reopening The Firs “to the highest conservation standards,” ensuring that the museum can once again welcome visitors and safely house the Irma Stern Collection.

They emphasise that Stern’s will was clear - her home and art were to remain accessible to the public. Any move to close, sell, or significantly alter the estate without transparency, they argue, risks undermining that legacy.

“After more than five decades of public stewardship, the museum belongs to South Africa’s cultural identity,” one supporter wrote on Facebook. “We cannot allow its closure and the potential dispersal of the collection to happen behind closed doors.”

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