(Members of the UKZN-based
band, Salt and Light, accomplished skateboarders, biker riders and visual
artists who will be participating: Siya Mkhize; Schogn Lee; Celumusa Dladla and
Darren Oatley)
The city’s Parks, Recreation & Culture Unit will host a
celebration on September 5 to honour Heritage month with Freedom of the Mind – a day long free family event. The aim is to
showcase the breadth of creative talent the city is nurturing in honour of
Heritage month.
All of the city’s PRC units will showcase their projects and
the programme includes a battle of the DJs; a drumming session; open mics to feature
hip hop; jazz; sketch comedy; vernacular comedy; traditional dance; gospel and
contemporary dance.
The work and projects of the Durban Art Gallery and
Libraries department will also be showcased.
Other events will take place on the same day from South
Beach to North Beach – it will be a feast of PRC unit activities. Other PRC
departments such as Sports and Recreation will have activities including
volleyball, aerobics and children’s activities with jumping castles,
storytelling and many more activities provided by the unit at large.
The intention of the cultural day is to showcase the artists
which the Arts and Living Culture Dept have been mentoring with the intention
of exposing them to external stakeholders, the public and potential employers, and
for the performers and artists to gain experience and exposure. The Arts and
Living Cultures Unit does not employ artists but facilitates arts development
programmes such as poetry, dance, choral and traditional music, hip hop, jazz,
theatre and comedy by offering workshops, seminars, exhibitions and live
performance opportunities.
“Parks, Recreation and Culture is focused on social
cohesion,” explains Head of Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, Thembinkosi Ngcobo
“We are blessed with world-class facilities and we want to encourage further
activity in the city’s many public spaces – especially those which aren’t
optimally utilised. We also want to foreground the city’s natural heritage and
send out a message that our beaches, parks and open spaces need preserving,
protecting and promoting. So often the Durban population neglects the natural
heritage, so we want to encourage Durbanites to become exposed to our public
spaces and utilise them more, and to become more familiar with the city’s
diverse cultures and creative activities.”
A stage will be erected for the day on the Bay of Plenty
lawns. There will be back-to-back entertainment as well as installations,
displays and stalls on the periphery showcasing some of the city’s cultural
projects. Entry is free and all are welcome.
With its youth focus, it is an alcohol-free event, so only
soft drinks will be available. There will also be a mini open air market.
The skateboard park alongside the lawns will also be
operational, with BMX / cycle / skateboard enthusiasts doing demos and comps as
part of the day’s programme.
Freedom of the Mind takes place on September 5 from 10h00 until
20h00 at the Bay of Plenty, Durban
beachfront, next to the Skateboard area. For more information, contact
Phumelele Myeza from Parks, Recreation & Culture Unit on 031 311 2410 or
031 311 2427/8 or email: Phumelele.Myeza@durban.gov.za
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