I am pleased to report that there will be an Echo Craft Bazaar this year and sad to report that it will be the last in which the Gallery is directly involved. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, we are an art museum with prescribed museological functions. We have found that the bazaar takes up an enormous amount of staff time and energy to the detriment of our essential "behind-the-scenes" work. We may appear to be cool, calm and collected - but the only way we maintain that is through a huge amount of planning and activity which our "customers" are never aware of. Secondly, despite every effort, we have been unable to establish a permanent post for the Bazaar Manager, Phumzile Sithole, on the municipal staffing structure. It is unfair to expect Phumzile to continue working indefinitely on a contract basis without the benefits attaching to a permanent appointment. She leaves us at the end of December or earlier if she finds a suitable position.