Founded 25th July 1963 with 4 Departments (DramOperMusic, Ballet) under Chris Lombard as first Director. Registered as a society not for gain, it was headed by a policy-making council chaired by the provincial administrator and representative of all interested parties, including the province, the city municipalities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, the department of national education, the business sector as well as representatives of the various performing art forms. Their function was to provide provide artists and artisans with a secure career option, to develop and promote dramballet, music and opera by offering audiences in the province with regular professional productions.