As you all know the museum will not be training any new volunteers in the current year. We will continue to involve students who are interested in being part of the museum by inviting them to our various projects should we need more help with the facilitation of the workshops. This clearly spells out fact, that most of students with an art background will stand a better chance of being involved at the museum than those without and art background simply because we are in need of facilitators for the workshops that forms part of our In-reach as well as outreach programmes. In terms of the guided tours we will make do with the few EA’s that remain. Let me take the time to highlight to you the various projects that we will be involved with this year.

Our Schedule Time Programme or Project Responsibility

First Quarter

Creative Industries Consortium 19 February @ 10:00 – 12:00 All EA’s

In-Reach Programme: Pretoria Primary School Time: 22 February – 29 March @ 1430 – 15:30 Facilitators and 1 Guide

Second Quarter

Outreach Programme: Phutha Ditshaba Primary School: Matters are not finalized. The schedule will be similar to that presented to Pretoria Primary School with additional workshops in Drama and Music. Projected for Mid April to Mid March 23 to 28 April Facilitators and 1 Guide Artflux Exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum Trainee Curators For Sale Project Exhibition at the Centurion Art Gallery Trainee Curators

Third Quarter

Children Tile Art Project Workshops EA’s to facilitate Kopanong Art Studio Initiative All EA’s involved in the residency programme to Exhibit Spring Holiday Programme EA’s to facilitate

Fourth Quarter

Children Tile Art Project Exhibition Trainee Curators In between all these programmes the guided tours will be taking place. In order to speed up the process in terms of accommodating schools and private groups for our guided tours we will tentatively book you and confirm your availability later telephonically.

Looking at this schedule above you can see that the second and third quarter of the year will prove to be the busiest if all the plans initially are put into place and the schedules are adhered to. Our Aims remains the same throughout. •

 To make the visual arts accessible to the schools, the disadvantaged communities and the public at large through guided tours. • To transfer art makings skills • To foster the appreciation of the visual arts • To promote new emerging artists in the person of the volunteer/Education Assistants through exhibitions. • To help develop young curators by involving our immediate volunteer/education assistant interested in visual art curatorship.

May this be a year filled with achievements

Mmutle Arthur Kgokong

The Corobrik Collection is a collection of ceramics that represents the development of studio ceramics and the work of the rural traditional potters of South Africa over the past thirty years. Linked to this development is also the growth of the Association of Potters of Southern Africa (APSA).

APSA was founded in 1972 and is the official representative body of potters in Southern Africa. It has branches in the Western and Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu-Natal and has three branches that make up the Gauteng region. The objective of the Association is to promote ceramics in South Africa by improving the work being produced and to foster an interest in ceramics by the general public. This is done by presenting workshops and organizing exhibitions regionally, nationally and internationally. National Ceramics Quartely, a full coloured magazine is the official publication of APSA.

Initially the collection was started by Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery who in 1977 became the sponsors of the APSA National and Regional Exhibitions and purchased the winning pieces from this exhibition to start a contemporary ceramics collection. When in 1982 Corobrik became the sponsors of APSA the pieces acquired by SFW became the beginning of the Corobrik Collection. The acquisition of the winning pieces from the Exhibitions continued  and pieces were also contributed by APSA. This process continued until 1992 when Corobrik ceased the sponsorship of the exhibition and in 1996 created a trust between itself and APSA to ensure the future of the collection and to make funds available for the continued acquisition of contemporary South African ceramic art.

In the present economic and social situation in South Africa during this transition period, the support and sponsorship of   the arts by corporate business is very necessary and important. That Corobrik, the largest clay brick manufacturers in the country, have continued to sponsor this ceramic collection bears testimony to their commitment to the arts and is indeed welcome.

The Corobrik Collection is housed in The Pretoria Art Museum.

N.B. The Corobrik Full Exhibition of ceramics opens on 24 October at 12:00pm

The above information was taken directly from the Corobrik brochure.

The following write-up is a contribution of Mme Tshepang D. Mojalefa, after her and Mme Philiswa Lila’s experience of a gathering centered on Ubuntu, the concept of humanity and self-love. It is hoped that this contribution to HORIZON7621 will leave the reader to re-consider self conduct. This entry asserts the bleak nature of our future with a lack of Ubuntu. It then sets the tone towards re-inserting Ubuntu in our conduct. The last part of the report highlights the structures of the workshops/sessions that were taken by the candidates who attended the Conference as an effort to reach an outcome.

(editor)

A Short report

On a Tuesday, the 31^st of August 2010, Philiswa lila, a member of the Creative Industries Consortium and my self had the privilege to attend a National Conference on Ubuntu organized by the National Heritage Council held at  Gallagher Estate’s Convention Center in Midrand, Gauteng. The all day event which concluded with a gala dinner, as they call it,  aimed to discuss issues of Ubuntu in the society or rather the lack thereof of Ubuntu in our society.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a pleasant, very meaningful word we use everyday, but the problem is one, we don’t practice what we preach, wise words say: ‘easier said than done’, but is it impossible? A smile very once in a while, picking something up for the next person, helping a blind person cross the street etc., those are some of the simplest, yet most crucial things one can and should do everyday in the name of Ubuntu. Nowadays though, it has become difficult to greet the person next o you, afraid that they might not even take a glance at you, never mind respond. So it’s a lack of simple things like this that call for our urgent attention to our ‘falling-apart’ society every day, but we never respond because we are always worried, ‘what will people say?’

So the National Heritage Council of South Africa saw that there was no-one who had the guts to stand up and fight for the right thing. They responded to the urgent call by gathering our nation together in a conference setting, so as to ring the alarm in each South African and non South African alike about this nation’s pitfall. There is an urgent need to turn around, look and go back and reclaim and then live with the values of a just and a caring society.    If things continue as they are, imagine our world in a decade or two or a century from now. It will be beyond disastrous. There’s still a chance now to make a change or to make a difference, but change has to start with me, as well as with every individual right now.

The Structure of the Conference

This three session conference was blessed by the presence of Prof. David Mosoma, who was the programme director of the first session. It was opened by Adv. Sonwabile Mancotywa, CEO of National Heritage Council, alongside Mr. Mike Mlengena, Chairperson of National Heritage Council, the key-note address was delivered by hon. Ms. Edna Molewa the minister of Social Development.

The second session, after our first tea/coffee break, was then held by Father Simangaliso Mkhatshwa as programme director. The speakers for this session were Adv. Enver Surty, the Deputy Minister for Education, who addressed Values in Education.

The next speaker, addressing Evolution and Application of Ubuntu Philosophy in a Democratic South Africa, was Dr. Mathole Motshekga, the chairperson of Commission on Religion and Traditional Affair. Then Pundit Ashwin Trikamjee, the General Secretary for National Religious Leaders Forum, rose to the occasion addressing Code of Conduct fo Persons in Position of Responsibility. This session is concluded by Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, who joked that he was the only thing standing between us and our lunch while talking about The Bill of Responsibilities.

After the delicious, top of the range lunch, we went to the third session of the conference led by a fellow called Mr. Sipho Sithole, briefing everyone on the workshops that were about to follow. These workshops were divided into four categories.

• Revival of the Values of a Just and Caring Society (Group I)
• Promotion and Collective Ownership of Values of Just and Caring Society  (Group II)
• Towards Integration of Ubuntu Values into Public and Private Programs (Group III)
• Sustainable Measures for Safeguarding Values of Ubuntu in Society with tangible Outcomes and Benefits (Group IV)

Above, these were the topics given as a task to four groups, a topic per group, which were then led by:

• Dr. Wally Serote (Freedom Park) as the facilitator and Ms. Anna-Mari Pieterse ( Humanities Team SA and Ubuntu Day Action Group), as his Rapporteur. ( Group I)
• Father Simangaliso Mkhatshwa (Moral Regeneration Movement) as facilitator and Mr. Sipho Sithole (CRATA0, AS THE Rapporteur. (Group II)
• Hon. Mr. Richard Baloyi (Minister of public Service and Administration) as a facilitator, alongside Mr. James Gadinabokao (CRATA), AS HIS Rapporteur. (Group III)
• Prof. David Mosoma (NILC) as facilitator, assisted by Mr. Phakamani Mthembu (DAC), AS Rapporteur. (Group IV)

After having discussed and prepared the presentations, where Ms. Lila and I were in the last group, the respective groups were requested to go back into the conference hall, where our rapporteurs then presented the group’s discussion to everyone else and allowed time for some questions and comments from the audience. After the presentations,Ms. Pumla Madiba, a member of the National Heritage Council, had the honor of concluding the conference, bringing it to the most pleasant moment of the day, the Gala Dinner: time to eat!!!

Which of course, due to time not being on our side  those of us who were transported by the private hire bus of the City of Tshwane had to leave for home. This hasty departure caused a conflict but nothing too serious.

© Tshepang D. Mojalefa 2010

I will like to thank everyone who was involved in the Kopanong Art Studio Initiative Open Day. Although we did not have a heavy inflow of crowds coming through to see the exhibition, several people found their way to the facility. Acknowledgements to both the curators and artists, well done!

The recently christen Art Studio might have to use the name Kopanong Art Studio instead of ‘Kopanong Art Studio Initiative’. Tshwane’s Languages Services has expressed a concern with the use of the word ‘initiative’ in the case of a physical structure. Apparently the word ‘initiative’ can legitimately be used in the situation where (quoting from Oxford Dictionary)

1.      a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular purpose

2.      the ability to decide or act on your own

3.      the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage

Thus, “initiative” is a plan or an ability or an opportunity.

In the light of this argument it will mean KASI will designate our annual happening/programme or Open Day at Kopanong Art Studio, The Kopanong Art Studio name is a workable name.  It seems as if this period is marred by name dispute. Our Creative Industries Consortium is facing a similar linguistic challenge. Following our efforts to register a name formally at DTI we have failed to secure the name Creative Industries Consortium due to the word ‘Consortium’ which apparently has a commercial or profit making connotation tied to it in the business world context. Should we prefer to use the name in its original sense then we will be defying the non profit nature of our association.

The interim committee of the ‘Creative Industries Consortium need to deal with coming up with a workable name that we can register our association under. I hope that the committee, which must convene an emergency meeting, in a week’s time,  can resolve the name issue as soon as possible so that we can move on to the approval of our constitution and position our selves properly to fundraise for 2011/2012 financial year. 

The following are projects that are in progress as well as coming.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

@ KOPANONG ART STUDIO

GENESIS II

4 – 29 October 2010

Exhibiting Artists: AprilLilaRihlampfuNgcaiSetumaneTlatsanaSiyotulaVan ZylSelekaneMarakalala

The Genesis II exhibition comprises of the artworks submitted for the KASI Open Day. 

KAS’HOUSING PROGRAMME:

October – December 2010 or

January – March 2011

KAS’ is scheduled to house:

Philiswa Lila, October – December or January – March  

Tshepo Mosopa  October – December or January – March

Followed by a two week art exhibition in the Studio to give public access to the results.

Space proposal open for May – July

Next Open Day 17 or 24 September 2011

CHILDREN TILE ART PROJECT:

Workshops – 11 September – 16 October 2010

Exhibition Opens: 4 December 2010

Exhibition – December 2010 – January 2011

Opening: 1 December (4 Official Opening)

The workshops are in progress and in their fifth week on 9 October. The current project will comprise six week of which the facilitators will be meeting with the candidates once a wee on Saturdays to help them produce work that wall be shown at the Museum as to commemorate world Aids day as well as to mark the month of December as an HIV/Aids awareness month.

Participants:

Elandspoort Child Welfare

Itumeleng Shelter

PAM KiDZ CLUB:

February and March 2011

EA’s with Fine Art background are invited to plan and conceptualize a series of activities for the next In-reach Project. This will include making contact with the relevant group and carrying out all communications with the identified school in the CBD area of Tshwane. Teboho, Senzi and Tshepang have expressed an interest in leading the project. Meeting not yet scheduled. Concepts expected

Educators Orientation Programme: Easter 2011

EA’s with Fine Art background are invited to plan and conceptualize a series of activities for the next Educators Orientation Programme. The aim of this programme is to expose educators of arts and culture to various art making techniques. This is to empower the educators to cope at school in the teaching of the visual arts in Arts and Culture learning area.

EASTER HOLIDAY PROGRAMME 2011:

Period: 18 April – 6 May 2011 

Scheduled, concepts needed

7 October 2010

If my reading of the historical manifesto of the Creative Industries Consortium did not heighten our sense of understanding of where we are going in acknowledgement of those who have been here before us and the fertile conditions, in terms of possibilities, within which we are operating, then nothing will, then all things fail, for we cannot see beyond our limitations which actually defeats the core of our association and insults the day we found our way to the art museum.

The lamentations, the cry that I am wailing here is that of openness and open mindedness, it is a cry for self acceptance, it is that of letting go of our cultural barriers, it is that of, even at certain moments in the future, reevaluating our beliefs systems in order that we reach nirvana – freedom. For if what we are about or think we are all about limits our association with other people we are a micro spec of sand lost in the wind.

Let us be conscious that as long as we regard our individualism as paramount and neglect to acknowledge other people around us we run a risk of walking away from the situation at the Pretoria Art Museum having gained nothing in terms of enrichment. Yes we may move on to better situations as far as employment is concerned but we will not have had the chance of scratching the surface of group dynamics. The scratching of the present groups dynamics which surrounds us will enforce where we may spent the better part of our professionalism in the future. Let us move a little further.

Artist

Guide

Curator

These three terms, their order of appearance here is insignificant, they may appear simplistic listed as they are however they represent the three persona’s of the Education Assistant before their ideal actualization. I shall clarify my meditation so that we can move in one rhythm. When a visual artist aspirant, when a guide aspirant or more so when an art administrator aspirant makes their first appearance at the Pretoria Art Museum, the museum represents a gateway towards the actualization of the three terms above and beyond, however work must be done persistently towards these points. What stands between the aspirant and their goal is the rigorous preparation that they will undergo through the Preparatory Programme.

At this point in time we may deal with the question ushered in by the word ‘ideal’ which appears in the first paragraph above after the stating of the three personas. The ideals of the education assistant may be known or unknown however it does not take a soothsayer to know that they are tied neatly with the volunteer’s yearn to ‘being a successful some body’ at the end of their term at the museum. What I mean is that the volunteer becomes involved in the museum because the volunteer wants best developments in order that they are better positioned to make a living. How is this ‘best’ achieved? It cannot be achieved single handedly, it can only be achieved through group dynamics that work. Let us list the terms again, at this instance elaborating what each means to clear out confusion once and for all.

a) The Artist makes Artworks.

b) The Guide introduces and discusses the Artwork.

c) The Curator conceptualizes an exhibition, researches and presents the artworks formally for public consumption.

Now the reader can appreciate just how mutually inclusive these terms are to each other. Each of these terms, or if you will personas of the Education Assistant, cannot be without the existence of the other two. So when tradition of our group dynamics begs that we come together whether in doing work or a little get together to relax or celebrate it is not a question of domination or of rendering our racial difference or culture bare and apparent in order that we may be reminded that we are different from each other. It is a step towards revitalizing what we mean to each other as we chart a new pathway in visual development. It is to bring human nature itself into work, so that work can be worthwhile.

Aspirant, no monster is so rough, no monster is so illusive and crippling and distorting than pride. Get rid of it. Or get riddled in it, after all the choice remains with you. However if you are a team member be a team player – be love conscious.

4 Octobver 2010

Many thanks all of you for pitching to our Education Assistants General Meeting held on 06 September 2010. More also I will like to extend a note of appreciation to all of you for participating in the various museum projects either as EA’s or members of the Creative Industries Consortium. The Pretoria Art Museum holds its volunteers in high regard in that it cannot achieve its primary aims of educating its visitors about the visual arts through its collection without the help of the Education Assistants.

UPCOMING TASKS:

SASOL NEW SIGNATURES: UNTIL 3 October 2010

Opening: 8 September @ 18:30 for 19:00

Walkabout: 13 September

Exhibition interaction: 20 September

Neo Emergence Art Exhibition 2010: September – late November

Opening 15 September

Walkabout: 17 September

Exhibition interaction: 20 September

Nthabiseng Rachel Motshiwa is a BTECH Fine Arts Graduate of TUT, a former Education Assistant, a member of the Creative Industries Consortium as well as a free lance curator. The Neo Emergence Art Exhibition is an exhibition that she solely conceptualized and coordinated as part of her last project as a volunteer of the Pretoria Art Museum. The exhibition sees her coming into fruition in terms of her pursuit and contribution to the development of the visual art. Included in this exhibition is a fellow artist and an EA, Philiswa Lila, who has also achieved success in being a finalist in two Sasol New Signatures art competitions and recently awarded a merit award for ABSA l’ Atelier Competition. 2010

TOURISM ENRICHMENT PROJECT: 17 September 2010 @ 10:00 – 12:00

The Tourism Enrichment Project is meant to expose learners in high school with an interest in Tourism Studies to the Pretoria Art Museum as a tourism site through a guided tour and a structured talk that will cover:

The Study of tourism

Challenges associated with graduation in tourism studies and solutions

Accreditation as a tour guide or operator

Work opportunities associated with tourism studies

Invited Groups:

Rebalelaka High School

Tshwane North College

Tshwane University of Technology, Tourism Students

With regard to this project it s intended that a team of EA’s with Tourism background will be assembled to plan, coordinate as well as to execute duties surrounding this initiative. Currently it is Tebogo Pitso who is the stirring project leader. Unfortunately due to the prolonged public workers strike the project may not, if it does take place, take the form that it was intended to take. We await confirmations from the invite group.

KASI Open Day: 25 September 2010 @ 10:00 – 16:00

All Education Assistants with a fine art background are invited to submit a minimum of two artworks for our two week exhibition at the Kopanong Art Studio Initiative (KASI). The exhibition is scheduled to be mounted on Monday 20 September. EA’S Trainee Curators will be responsible for handling the curatorship of the exhibition. The week of 13 September is the last week of artworks submissions. Currently Mmutle is coordinating the receiving of artworks from the artists as they submit work. Philiswa has coordination the invitation of the event as well as liaising with crafters and beaders to have tables/stalls on 2 September. We wish to state that this was suggested to be the responsibility of the trainee curators in previous meetings, however since there has not been movement on their side to stir the Open Day we have proceeded forward and hope that they will at least handle the mounting of the artworks in the confines of Kopanong Art Studio come 20 September.

KASI Residency Programme: October – December 2010

Presently we are awaiting portfolio submissions for the residency programme that is intended to be run at the centre. Initially KASI is intended to offer working space to the Education Assistants as they prepare to produce work for the upcoming Genesis II Exhibition at CAG (Centurion Art Gallery) in June 2011. Here also EA’S Trainee Curators will coordinate the processes leading to the exhibition.

To date KASI is scheduled to house:

Philiswa Lila, October – December

Tshepo Mosopa  October – December

Followed by a two week art exhibition in the Studio to give public access to the results.

Space proposal open for February – April, May – July

Next Open Day 17 or 24 September 2011

SPRING HOLIDAY PROGRAMME 2010:

Dates: 2, 9, 16, October

Again the magnitude of the recent strike might hinder the presentation of workshops for this programme however plans are being made to have this programme on Saturdays.

CHILDREN TILE ART PROJECT: December 2010  – January 2011

Opening: 3 December

Th workshops are scheduled to start on 11 September with HIV/Aids counseling to the facilitators planned for 10 September. The current project will comprise six week of which the facilitators will be meeting with the candidates once a wee on Saturdays to help them produce work that wall be shown at the Museum as to commemorate world Aids day as well as to mark the month of December as an HIV/Aids awareness month.

Participants:

Elandspoort Child Welfare

Itumeleng Shelter

PAM KiDZ CLUB: February and March 2010

EA’s with  Fine Art background are invited to plan and conceptualize a series of activities for the next In-reach Project. This will include making contact with the relevant group and carrying out all communications with the identified school in the CBD area of Tshwane. Teboho, Senzi and Tshepang have expressed an interest in leading the project. Meeting not yet scheduled. Concepts expected

Educators Orientatin Programme: Easter 2011

EA’s with Fine Art background are invited to plan and conceptualize a series of activities for the next Educators Orientation Programme. The aim of this programme is to expose educators of arts and culure to various art making technique. This is to empower the educators so that in their classroom situation they can cope when they have to present Arts and Culture lesson at school.

Mmutle Arthur Kgokong

7 September 2010



Many thanks for pitching to our Education and Development General Meeting held on 26 July 2010. It is much appreciated. Thank you Tebogo Pitso for preparing the minutes and coordinating art library visits. I will also like to extend a note of gratitude to Brian K. Motlhomi and Tozana Sithole for their presence at the museum manning the phone calls for tours enquiries and the processing of guided tour bookings as well as assisting with the coordination of library visit.

I will like to extend a note of appreciation to Philiswa Lila for organizing the Winter Holiday 2010 programme. The Museum has had a positive response from the parents and children; they have requested that we should have a similar programme in the upcoming Spring holidays. Plans were proposed in our recent meetings for a follow up programme. Those who foresee that they will have time or have the desire to be involved in the next leg of the series of workshop to be presented in September are welcome to forward their names to Philiswa Lila asap so that they can be drafted into the new schedule specific for the Spring Holiday Programme.

UPCOMING TASKS:

PAM KiDZ CLUB: October – November, current year

EA’s with Fine Art background are invited to plan and conceptualize a series of activities for the next In-reach Project. This will include making contact with the relevant group and carrying out all communications with the identified school in the CBD area of Tshwane. Teboho, Senzi and Tshepang have expressed an interest in leading the project. Meeting not yet scheduled.

KASI Open Day: 25 September 2010 @ 10:00 – 15:00

All Education Assistants with a fine art background are invited to submit a minimum of two artworks for our two week exhibition at the Kopanong Art Studio Initiative (KASI). The exhibition is scheduled to be hanged/mounted on Monday 20 September. EA’S Trainee Curators will be responsible for handling the curatorship of the artworks and the coordination of the open day. We wish to also invite crafters and beaders (bead workers) to display and hopefully sell their products.

Neo Emergence Art Exhibition 2010: September – late November
Opening 15 September

Please support the opening of this exhibition which is curated by Nthabiseng Rachel Montshiwa, TUT Fine Art Graduate and an EA (2005 – 2007). Of the 8 artists featured Philiswa Lila is also an included. We wish her well in the exhibition also not forgetting to congratulate her on her recent merit award for ABSA l’ Atelier Competition.

KASI Residency Programme: October – December 2010

Presently we are awaiting portfolio submissions for the residency programme that is intended to be run at the centre. Initially KASI is intended to offer working space to the Education Assistants as they prepare to produce work for the upcoming Genesis II Exhibtion at CAG (Centurion Art Gallery) in June 2011. Here also EA’S Trainee Curators will coordinate the processes leading to the exhibition

CHILDREN TILE ART PROJECT: December 2010 – January 2011
Opening: 3 December

We are humbled and pleased that Ithuteng Art Outreach Project, having secured funding after diligently applying for funding to MTN and DAC have decided to help fund and coordinate the up coming Children Tile Art Project. To date a team comprising of experienced Education Assistants serving at our pinnacle of association, the Creative Industries Consortium Tshwane, to plan and facilitate specific practical workshops for this project. This project is targeted at children who are affected by the effects of HIV directly or indirectly. Contact with a shelter, health workers and department of education will be made in the process of the planning. Next plenary meeting is scheduled for 5 August @ 830am.

1 August 2010

The workshops which were conducted were mainly; drawing, painting, clay modeling, sculpture and print-making. The response that we got from schools was very positive, from both educators and learners. The demand for art workshops in township schools is very high due to lack of art facilities and resources, lack of art education on the educators’ part which results in poor delivery of the art and culture subject to the learners.

100% of the schools we went to, pleaded ITHUTENG ART to come back for extended programs, the big challenge to ITHUTENG ART is lack of effective financial support system, which limits the organization to carry out its objectives and to fully satisfy the art thirst in our disadvantaged communities however ITHUTENG ART will continue to work hard in reaching and achieving its vision. Lastly ITHUTENG ART acknowledges and appreciates the working relationship with the Pretoria Art Museum and SANAVA (South African National Association of Visual Arts) in partnership to make our outreach projects successful.

Tebogo R. Marakalala

ITHUTENG ART Chairman

© Artspearahead 2009

Good day everyone. We are indeed honoured and happy to have you with us today as our guests in the opening of Artflux Exhibition an exhibition of selected artworks by children who have participated in Pretoria Art Museum’s Education and Development Programme.

Education Assistants

Through the efforts and hard work of both Art Beat Foundation and Ithuteng Art Outreach Project this exhibition will not have been possible. Many thanks also to Arcadia Primary School, Sunnyside Primary, Stanza Bopape Primary School as well as Fusion High School for their participation in the programme by making it possible for the facilitators to have access to work with the children.

We are intebted to SANAVA, The Carl van der Merwe Trust as wellas Thamsanqa Advise Programmes for making these workshops a reality. Without their partnership the museum will not have achieved the goal of reaching out to underprivilaged communities. Much work still needs to be done and we believe that this is the continuation of a process.

The twenty artworks on show in this exhibition displaye a variety of art making materials that the children were exposed to, the artworks also shows how the learners have been able to absorb the techniques that the facilitators have introduced them to in expressing their ideas visually. They range from abstraction to realism and drawing to painting.

We are honoured to have the privilege of hosting these artworks in an exhibition and we hope that this exhibition will inspire the children/youth to continue to aspire to become artists and continue to have the love for the visual arts. On behalf of the museum I will like to say thank you to the facilitators of the workshops who have help make these artworks a possibility and also I will like to say to the learners, those whose work is included in the exhibition and those whose work were not selected due to space and standard, keep it up.

I will like to also thank my colleagues in museum for their assistance with the organisation of the exhibition, the catering as well as the press release. And now ladies and gentlemen, parents and guardians, youth and children I declare the exhibition open.

for images link up:

http://botakiukudweba99.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/artflux-exhibition-99-opening/

*This is the speech that was intended to be read on the afternoon of the opening of the exhibition.

4 July

©  artspearahead 2009