Franco
Frescura, Education Officer of Phansi Museum, has released the following public
apology:
Quite apart from its many and more popular
community functions, The Phansi Museum also functions as the focal point for a
community of scholars. Its collections represent an incredibly rich source of original data for researches
into African traditions and artefacts, and its
growing reference library is
rapidly becoming a major focus of research activity.
In addition, our collections provide our
indigenous artists and crafters with important reference points and templates
which record their transition from the traditions of historical times through
to the evolutionary changes of modern era. This is supported by an active
publishing programme which aims to create a record of things local and things
African, and to make available little-known research to a wider public.
Thus far this has been limited to the
history, arts and architectures native to our continent, but we are currently
working to extend our activities to include the Indian Diaspora, and handbooks
on both Islamic and Indian art and architecture are in the planning stages.
Neglected aspects of European colonial architecture are also being looked at.
Ultimately, it is our objective to have
elements of African and Indian material culture incorporated into all aspects
of the architectural syllabus at a tertiary level. To this long list of
notable achievements we also need to add
our many exhibitions, a growing following of jazz enthusiasts, and our Saturday morning
sessions for the youth.
Sadly, our more expensive programme of school
visits has had to be suspended owing to a lack of financial support, but we
regularly continue to entertain visitors, both local and foreign, to our
collections and to the African Art Centre, and all our regular activities
associated with the running of a regular museum carry on unabated.
Thus any reports that The Phansi is
threatened with closure that might have appeared in the press are both false
and misguided. Regrettably, one of the victims to such false rumours has been
our monthly programme of fortnightly lectures and film shows, and owing to
plummeting audience numbers, these have now been suspended with immediate effect.
This is unfortunate and we apologise to all our friends and supporters for any
inconvenience caused.
The possible restructuring of a similar
programme will be re-evaluated over the festive season.
Phansi Museum is situated at 500 Esther
Roberts Road, Glenwood, in Durban. Contact the museum on 031 206 2889 or email
admin@phansi.com or visit www.phansi.com
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