ANDRIES BOTHA AT ST CLEMENTS

(Above: Andries Botha)

Join Pieter Scholtz and friends at St Clements for their regular Mondays @ 6 at St Clements programme on May 3, 2021, for a conversation with pre-eminent South Africa sculptor, visionary, crusader for the arts, environmental activist, mentor to many and much more, Andries Botha.

Botha has been making art — winning awards, exhibiting internationally, teaching, using his art as a platform for activism — for more than 40 years.

“There is a sculpture and cultural precinct opening in Kloof that will focus principally on sculpture that has its origins in KwaZulu-Natal. Sculpture born here,” says Botha.

It is all happening within the extraordinary 20-hectare AmmaZulu Gardens and Sculpture Precept: the vast and “sprawling abundance of plants, artifacts and objects” and a “wild wonderland”, to quote the garden’s creator, fellow visionary and architect, Peter Amm, who has been cultivating this wilderness domain for 40 years.

Besides being a whimsical surprise-filled and art-intense wonderland, the precinct will be the new permanent home of Botha’s sculpture collection spanning 40 years.

Artist residencies and exhibitions of KZN sculptors past and present are part of the vision.

Questions and conversation will include thoughts and dialogue around:

What inspired the vision for the new sculpture precinct and how has it evolved?

To what can we attribute this bursting energy and evolution in an urban precinct when currently so much is contracting?

Durban and KZN: backwater or thriving art force?

Forty years of art and the Andries Botha sculpture collection. Please tell us about it.

The 10-year (and 50-year) vision for the precinct. Is there one?

And more. There will be time for questions.

 

When the donations box comes round, the organisers suggest a minimum of R50 per person.

Wear a mask. Outdoors event (dress accordingly) with carefully spaced seating.

The event takes place at 18h00 on May 3, 2021. With Covid protocols. Bookings limited to diners in support of St Clements restaurant and staff. (They stay open specially for the event.)

Steve’s new Covid-safe system means menus will be brought to tables so patrons are asked not to wait at reception as was the norm. Orders entered separately as before.

RSVP ST Clements 031 202 2511. (Seating limited. Diners only. Table bookings essential)

 

ACT ANNOUNCES NEW BUILDING BLOCKS PROGRAMME PARTICIPANTS

The Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) reaches another milestone as it announces the second wave of successful outcomes for the ACT Building Blocks Programme 2021 funded by the National Arts Council (NAC).

The open call for the second virtual ACT Building Blocks Programme ran from February 17 to March 3, 2021, and saw more than 160 applicants from across the country compete for a spot on the programme starting online in May 2021.

The Building Blocks Programme remains one of ACT’s most impactful and relevant programmes in the arts and culture sector, empowering a large number of arts and culture practitioners across South Africa to hone their professional and business development within an arts specific framework.

As a means to support and bolster the entrepreneurial spirit and strengthen the resilience of small (microbusiness) to mid-level organisations and arts practitioners, the extensive and updated ACT Building Blocks curriculum, will cover:

Digital Skills

Marketing

Governance and Monitoring & Evaluation

ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) in the arts

The selection process for the 2021 cohort has changed from previous years to assure an equal reach in all nine South African provinces. A selection committee selected up to five deserving artists/organisations form each province.

The Kwa-Zulu Natal participants are:

Goodman Majola – Organisation (Mary Gray Theatre Projects)

Dane Duwane Francis - Individual

Jarryd Watson – Organisation (The Wentworth Arts and Culture Organisation)

Noxolo Thandeka Mlungwana – Individual

 

The remaining successful applicants are:

Gauteng:

Buhle Martha Radebe – Individual; Sifiso Ngwane – Organisation (Moonstone Tales); Lungile Zaphi – Organisation (Morris Isaacson Centre of Music); Lethabo Gumede – Individual; Kganya Mogashoa – Individual

Free State:

Lerato George Thulo – Organsiation (Raycreek (Pty) Ltd); Lana Combrinck – Individual; Pheello Rasello – Organisation (Black Roots Productions (Pty) Ltd); Berlina Medupi – Organisations (Tidimalo Dance and Theatre Productions); Lehlohonolo Mabaso - Individual

Limpopo:

Rendani Fulufhelo Mashau – Individual; Makwena Manamela – Organisation (Deft PR); Mashapa Sesera – Organisation (Xclusive Spot Theatre); Nthwaleng Selina Tlaka – Organisation (Ipopeng Cultural Group); Sello Matsemela – Organisation ( Manyalo Music Awards)

Eastern Cape:

Litha Ncokazi – Organisation (Art Versatile Institute for Arts Development, Entrepreneurship and Research); Sibusiso Molefe – Individual (BANG Entertainment); Heidi Sincuba – Individual (Sincuba Studios); Ryan Carlo Campher – Individual; Gary Ndlovu – Individual

Western Cape:

Christie v Zyl – Individual; Mboneleli Gqirana - Organisation (iKhaya eLitsha Hub); Xolane Marman – Individual; Ralton Nolan – Individual; Kirsten Pienaar – Organisation (Biblioteek Productions)

Northern Cape:

Balfour Lekgwathi – Organisation (On The Beat Communications); Richie Cloete – Individual; Vuyo Mayesa – Individual; Monnapula Maranda – Individual; Arnold Matthews - Individual

North West:

Amogelang Mokonoko – Individual; Thina Minya – Individual (MaCa – Mareledi Centre of ARTS); Thabo Mauco – Individual; Nonhlanhla Pitseng – Organisation (Raikaga Performing Arts); Tshepo Mothudi - Individual

Mpumalanga:

Smangele Theledi – Organisation (Youth Nest Foundation NPC); Speelman Mabena – Organisation (SM Pro Studios); Clement Mokoena – Individual (FunkMusiq); Joseph Mandla Mahlangu – Organisation (Joed Multipurpose Organisation)

 

ACT CEO Marcus Desando says: “After the outcomes of the previous iteration of the ACT Building Blocks Programme, it is very exciting for us to welcome another cohort of participants who will experience the extensive masterclasses and mentoring that is part of this programme. ACT as an organisation is highly encouraged by the calibre of participants who have applied and the fortunate ones who were chosen. We wish them enrichment and fortitude through this programme and its impact on us all.”

A graduate form the first iteration of the revamped Building Blocks Programme commented; “The points that were covered were relevant to my work and situations, problems or solutions I had encountered. There was a nice flow between given information and discussions.”

Through the Building Blocks Programme ACT strives to increase the capacity and sustainability of South African arts and culture organisations and practitioners, small and mid-level creative enterprises and entrepreneurial artists. The Building Blocks Programme will strengthen the operational infrastructure of the programme participants by providing technical assistance and relevant developmental tools through Masterclasses and mentoring and in so doing serving the creative sector holistically.

To link direct to the Arts & Culture Trust’s site, click on the ACT logo to the right of this article or visit http://www.act.org.za

 

ART GAZETTE

(Left: Sujin Lee’s “Green Pool W.2 - 2020)

Art Gazette, a new, ground-breaking online platform for contemporary art, has been launched with a two-fold mission to support artists in a post-Covid world and to create elegant environments for working, living and leisure.

Art Gazette provides an online catalogue of over 7,500 original contemporary artworks that have been purchased directly from emerging and more established artists by expert curators, to suit a range of public and private spaces. To-date Art Gazette has acquired work by 458 artists around the world with a focus on smaller pieces ranging from A4-A0 in size – ideal for almost any space, including offices, hotels, restaurants, retailers and home interiors.

Led by former CEO of Saatchi Gallery Nigel Hurst, art collector, entrepreneur and philanthropist Martin Epstein, and curator Morné Visagie, the Art Gazette team has been busy buying work from artists well before the pandemic, since early 2019. This acquisition phase has provided an important lifeline at a fraught time for artists when many have had exhibitions and art fairs postponed or cancelled due to COVID.

Art Gazette recognises the inherent value in work that is not ordinarily monetised, such as preliminary studies and sketches toward more ambitious projects; works in series that examine recurring and changing ideas; and exploratory pieces through which artists expand their practice into new media and lines of enquiry. These would rarely be exhibited and so – through working with Art Gazette –artists can earn money from this important side of their practice as well as from gallery shows.

(Left: Ryan Crudgington’s “Pixel 4” - 2021)

An entirely original business model, Art Gazette has inverted art market norms by acquiring work directly from artists and paying for them up front, thereby creating an ongoing and regular revenue stream for artists whilst operating in synergy with their exhibition and gallery commitments.

Art Gazette’s catalogue shows a dedication to work that addresses the diverse issues of our time in a broad range of media, including painting, drawing, collage, photography, print, sculpture, and textiles. Visitors to artgazette.com will be able to browse work by a range of artists including: Alice Wilson (b. 1982, UK), who explores the perpetual human need for shelter and belonging despite our technological advances; Lebogang Mabusela (b. 1996, South Africa), who subverts gender norms through harnessing childhood memory, lived experience, and found objects; Spanish photographer Clemente Vergara (b.1985), with his remarkable devotion to the art of composition and masterful blurring of the line between abstraction and photography; and Lakin Ogunbanwo (b.1987, Nigeria), whose enigmatic photography is erotic, unsettling, figurative and abstract, in turn.

(Right: Lakin Ogunbanwo’s “Untitled 1” - 2016)

Art Gazette’s new interactive website artgazette.com enables artists to create online portals where they can submit proposals of work they wish to be included in the inventory. These submissions will be reviewed by the Art Gazette team, and, if selected, artists will be paid within ten days of the works having been received, checked and approved. Should a proposal be unsuccessful, artists receive feedback on their work and are encouraged to submit further work for consideration in future.

Buyers looking to acquire new works in groups of ten pieces or more are invited to register their interest via the new web platform. Once registered, they will be contacted by Art Gazette to create a selection of artworks for a quote. Alternatively, clients can draw on Art Gazette’s curatorial expertise and request the team’s assistance in hand-picking a unique group of works specifically for their space, as well as framing and installing them too, if they wish. In the coming months, prospective clients will also be able to purchase artworks online directly.

(Left: “Systems and parallels” CDXX Drawing by Tim Ellis - 2020)

Nigel Hurst, co-founder of Art Gazette says: “The past year has been unimaginably challenging for artists around the world, so we are delighted to officially launch Art Gazette as a viable, alternative revenue stream at a time when many artists are struggling to make ends meet. As we begin to emerge into a post-Covid world, it is critical that the visual arts sector continues to innovate and create new opportunities for artists and buyers.

“A lesson we’ve all learned during the past year or so is that the environments we find ourselves in each day, matter. Through Art Gazette, we are connecting artists with those who wish to acquire and display their work, be it in public or private, and in doing so help create more beautiful, creative spaces for people to live, work, and play in.”

SIBUSISO MASH MASHILOANE TOURS CAPE TOWN

(Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane)

Durban-based pianist and composer Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane is known to be both a virtuoso player and conductor, with his live performances being the drawing card that has garnered attention by audiences across the world. The pianist and his band will be performing in Cape Town on Friday April 30 at Alliance Francaise and on Sunday May 1 at Jazz in The Native Yards.

"Performing in Cape Town is always very special to me since it’s a city that played a significant role in affording our SA heroes with a platform to perform during the Apartheid era," says Mashiloane.

Mashiloane’s band will consist of acclaimed Cape Town-based musicians Shaun Johannes on double bass, Bonolo Nkoane on drums, Nono Nkoane on vocals, and Buddy Wells on saxophone and flute.

“Playing with this band will be very helpful since they are very experienced in my exploration of sound and, of course, Shaun and Buddy played with my heroes such as Moses Molelekwa, Zim Ngqawana and Winston Mankunku Ngozi,” says Mashiloane.

It is no coincidence that Mashiloane chooses the weekend of International Jazz Day to visit the mother city, he says: “Jazz as an art-form, conceived through freedom and identity, is worth celebrating, not just in one day but daily, especially in the context of embracing and exploring our identity and heritage.”

Mashiloane, now synonymous with the South African Jazz scene and music stages across the globe, has released five albums that have since reached critical acclaim. He is a multi-award winning and nominated artist at prestigious ceremonies and events like the SAMAs, the AFRIMA awards and the International Urban Music Awards. At present, he is studying towards a PhD which befittingly aims, through the lens of South African Jazz, to focus on the nostalgia-seeped themes of home that Mashiloane can't help but find himself instinctively returning to.

Mashiloane's personal yet expansive exploration extend as deep into the roots to the highest treetop branches of vast knowledge systems that stretch far and wide. His music is steeped in rich, indigenous history and scholarship that doesn't try to erase the West's influences in shaping how we see ourselves and our individual and collective relationship to music.

"I have an aspirational view in raising awareness about the value of our works as Africans," Mashiloane maintains, "and I aim to be one of the influences in a new generation of musicians, music collectors and live music audiences who will pride themselves on their African heritage."

Gig listing:

Friday April 30: Alliance Française du Cap, 155 Loop Street, Cape Town, 8001

Start time: 19h30.

Fee: R120 general / R60 students. Cash bar available

Booking essential on WhatsApp only: 083 441 4760

 

Sunday May 1: Jazz in the Native Yards

Start time: 16h00

kwaSec, NY138, no52

Fee: R120 at the door. Booking on WhatsApp only: 060 960 8935

ARTFLUENCE HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL QUESTIONS LIMITS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?

(Left: Dr Pierre de Vos)

In 2017, a work titled #fuckwhitepeople created in 2016 by genderqueer artist Dean Hutton was the subject of a lawsuit after it was displayed in an exhibition, The Art of Disruptions, at the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town. The case was brought to the courts by a fringe political party on charges of hate speech that Magistrate Daniel Thulare dismissed; cultural observers followed the case to see if it was also a test of freedom of expression.

Section 16 of the South African Constitution guarantees Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Creativity. Magistrate Daniel Thulare ruled that the poster displaying the phrase, Fuck White People in black-and-white capital letters did not amount to hate speech and was not racist because it was "within the context of protest art".

(Right: Dean Hutton)

Dean Hutton, a masters student in fine art at the time, said the work was inspired by black intellectual thought and represented a demand for the “complete dismantling of the systems of power that keep white people racist”. Dean Hutton will be one of the featured artists at the inaugural Artfluence Human Rights Festival presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal from May 5 to 8, 2021. Hutton will be in dialogue with Constitutional Law Expert Professor Pierre de Vos.

Hutton will be joined on the panel by film-maker Hajooj Kuka, whose work in the war-torn regions of Sudan led to him being named one of the Leading Global Thinkers by the Foreign Policy Magazine. He trains and works with conflict-affected and marginalised communities through theatre of the oppressed and various film projects. His films have screened in over a hundred festivals worldwide, and he has received numerous awards. Kuka is an Academy Member (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and a Berlinale Talent Alumni.

(Left: Hajooj Kuka)

In 2020, Kuka was one of five Sudanese artists who was jailed for two months and fined on charges of causing a public nuisance, in what some observers have described as a crackdown on art and activism. 

The Centre for Creative Arts issued a statement at the time condemning the arrest stating that Kuka’s films are both a condemnation of war and a tribute to the power of human transcendence, themes that were running very strongly at the Durban International Film Festival and in the values the Centre for Creative Arts.

(Right: Iain Ewok Robinson

Completing the panel will be the South African spoken-word artist, rapper, activist and hip hop artist Iain Ewok Robinson, who effectively used his art to galvanise people on a wide range of issues, partnering with recognised civil organisations and drawing attention to their concerns and actions.

Moderator Pierre de Vos is the Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Constitutional Governance and teaches in the area of Constitutional Law. He has a B Comm (Law), LLB and LLM (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch, an LLM from Columbia University in New York, and an LLD from the University of Western Cape. He taught at the University of Western Cape from 1993 to June 2009 and held a Professorship at that institution from 2001. Prof de Vos is the chairperson of the Board of the Aids Legal Network and is a board member of the Triangle Project. He writes a blog on social and political issues from a constitutional law perspective.

The inaugural Artfluence Human Rights Arts Festival focusing on arts, constitution, and democracy will be presented by the Centre for Creative Arts in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands. Voices of Hope, Courage and Resilience will be the theme for the inaugural festival. It will mark the 25th anniversary of the Centre for Creative Arts as a vibrantly creative enabler and advocate for social justice and democracy and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the South African Constitution.

The inaugural festival will run for four days, from Wednesday May 5 to Saturday May 8, 2021. The Freedom of Expression panel will be screening on Wednesday, May 5 at 17h00.

The festival is freely accessible and can be watched via www.facebook.com/artfluencefest and www.youtube.com/centreforcreativearts.

15TH ANNUAL SAFTA AWARDS OPEN THE CALL FOR “IN MEMORIAM”

(The Golden Horn SAFTA Award)

Deadline for submission: May 7, 2021

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture and custodian of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) would like to extend a call to the South African Film and Television industry to submit names of dearly departed practitioners who passed between January 2020 to date.

This call is to get all the relevant names that will be honoured in the In Memoriam section of the awards. This call is across the board for all film and television practitioners.

The SAFTAs will be paying special tribute and honouring South African fallen heroes and heroines for their contribution in the film and television industry, on May 22, 2021.

Please submit the full name and surname and a preferred high-resolution image of the deceased.

Closing for submission: May 7, 2021

All submissions must be emailed to staceyl@nfvf.co.za by May 7, 2021.

DEAD LEGENDS

In The Flesh Entertainment presents Dead Legends with Ross Tapson, Grant Halliday, Neil Ford and Aaron Saunders with performances at Rhumbelow in Durban (May 7 to 9) and Tina’s Hotel in Kloof (May 21 to 23). (Tina’s Restaurant opens 90 minutes before meals)

KZN musicians In The Flesh, who have been wowing audiences with shows featuring the music of Pink Floyd, The Doors and Southern Classic Rock, are at it again – they’re upping the ante with Dead Legends, a tribute to some of the late greats.

In The Flesh consists of veteran performers Grant Halliday (drums), Neil Ford (bass guitar) and Ross Tapson (guitar and vocals). For this show the rotation is joined by a talented and exciting new face, Aaron Saunders (guitar and vocals).

“Aaron is great to be around, quite apart from being a fine musician, and the audience loves him,” says Tapson of their newest guest. “We’re very happy to have him on board – he’s a real all-rounder.”

The show consists of faithful, energetic renditions of songs by great artists of the recent past, including Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Prince, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, and many other beloved names.

“We’ve included some things that may pleasantly surprise people, too,” according to Ford. “These are some of the greatest performers in popular music, and we’re passionate about doing justice to these great songs.”

“There’s plenty of fun and laughter too, though,” adds Halliday.

In The Flesh have been garnering acclaim all over southern Africa for their energy and their daring choice of repertoire, and this show promises to be great family entertainment.

Rhumbelow Durban shows take place from May 7 to 9 on Friday and Saturday at 19h30 and on Sunday at 14h00. (Venue opens 90 minutes before show for snacks/drinks)

Tina’s Hotel shows take place from May 21 to 24 on Friday and Saturday at 19h30 and on Sunday at 14h00.

“Whilst we are not changing our 2020 pricing, we would ask that if you are able to please assist us and the performers by donating a higher ticket price,” says Rhumbelow Theatre’s director, Roland Stansell.

Tickets R160

75 PEOPLE MAX PER SHOW (50% capacity)

All seating will be at separate tables and the management will obviously be seating co-habiting couples and/or family members.

Rhumbelow Theatre is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road, Durban. Bring food picnic baskets or buy from Kevin. Tina’s Hotel is at 14 Beryldene Road in Kloof.

Limited secure parking is available at both venues and there is a cash bar (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises).

With the current Covid levels, capacity is limited to 50 people max

Booking is essential on email: roland@stansell.co.za or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com/

For more information contact 082 499 8636 or Computicket

All Covid-19 protocols will be observed.

Further performances take place at the Allan Wilson Shellhole in Pietermaritzburg on June 27 at 14h00 and then at the Northlands Bowling Club on July 3 at 19h30.

UMGENI STEAM TRAIN MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

(Right: Ru, Thandeka, Rea & Lephoi Maduna)

Enjoy a Mother’s Day beyond your wildest steams on board the Inchanga Choo Choo:  the Umgeni Steam Train is running two Mother’s Day trains on Sunday May 9 at 08h30 and 12h30 – especially for families, to honour and spoil Mums.

Watch autumn roll past your window aboard the Umgeni Steam Train. The trains leave Stokers Arms in Kloof – offering a round trip - and chugs towards Inchanga offering spectacular views of the Valley of 1000 Hills – travelling west through Gillitts, Hillcrest, Botha’s Hill, Alverstone (the highest point) and Drummond. The train goes through the oldest running tunnel in Drummond (1878).

At Inchanga Station, guests can disembark to enjoy a Mother’s Day themed craft and food market which is set up in and around the old Station, enabling Mum to be spoilt with edible treats (and really good coffee); jewellery and décor; clothes and accessories; perfumes and soaps; and plants and succulents.

The Train Museum will be open, to learn about the history of the Umgeni Steam Railway, and the model railway display will be operational.

The round trip is three hours all in and pre-booking is essential. In the spirit of Mother’s Day – Umgeni Steam Railway is charging reduced ticket prices for both trains on May 9– with one standard ticket price throughout.

Stalls at the Inchanga Craft market, and on-board souvenirs and refreshments are on a cash-only basis.

To keep the prices low and to accommodate additional coaches, the Mother’s Day trains will be diesel-hauled.

The Umgeni Steam Railway runs the last Sunday of each month, and on select holidays.  http://umgenisteamrailway.com/

The Umgeni Steam Railway is run entirely by volunteers. It is a proud member of, and supported by, 1000 Hills Community Tourism Organisation. To find out about these and other things to do in the area – visit The Valley of a 1000 Hills Community Tourism Organisation website at https://www.1000hillstourism.co.za/

There are also month-end coaches on May 29 (afternoon) and May 30 (morning and afternoon).

The Inchanga Choo Choo will leave The Stokers Arms in Kloof on May 9 at 08h30 and 12h30. Special prices for Mother's Day are R190 each for adults, pensioners and children. To book visit http://umgenisteamrailway.com/BookingICC.aspx

 

WINDERMERE ANTIQUE FAIR

The next Windermere Antique Fair will take place on Saturday May 1, 2021.

Join this active group on the lower level of Windermere Centre from 08h30 until 14h00.

Around 20 dealers will be selling a wide selection of antiques, vintage and collectibles. Goods on sale will include: porcelain, glass, crystal, jewellery, silver, records, books, paintings, linen, old toys etc.

Plus interesting treasures of yesteryear at prices to suit all pockets

Entrance is free. Windermere Centre is situated at Lilian Ngoyi Road in Morningside, Durban.

For more information contact Helen Clementz on 084 241 0241.

RMB 2021 ‘TALENT UNLOCKED’ PROGRAMME

(RMB Think Precinct, Sandton)

Deadline for applications: April 30, 2021

Applications open for 2021 RMB Talent Unlocked programme

“Rand Merchant Bank values the recognition we have received for our support of the creative arts. Our goal is to help stimulate and support the creative economy.

“We believe that the arts play a critical role in our education and society,” says RMB creative counsel, Carolynne Waterhouse. “The arts enrich our lives and are vital to a vibrant economy. Those who are key to their creation should be assisted in whatever sustainable way possible.”

Unlocking talent

In keeping with this philosophy, applications for the annual RMB Talent Unlocked programme are open. This year, RMB Talent Unlocked gives women artists the opportunity to participate in a skills development and arts mentorship programme addressing professional practice and developing a comprehensive body of work. It includes individual critique and feedback from established art mentors and peers with the support and backing of RMB.

The programme will culminate in a curated exhibition at the Everard Read CIRCA Gallery in Johannesburg, leading up to Women’s Day in August 2021. A selection of works will be sold at auction on Strauss & Co’s online platform in August, providing international exposure and potential for sales.

“RMB’s purpose is ‘to liberate diverse talent to do good business for a better world’,” adds Waterhouse. “RMB Talent Unlocked supports this purpose fully.”

 

A renewed strategy

Part of our strategic direction to unlock talent has resulted in RMB’s withdrawal from the Turbine Art Fair. “We believe that RMB’s contribution to the visual arts in particular will be better spent focusing on projects such as RMB Talent Unlocked, where the benefits to the creative economy are more direct and measurable,” says Waterhouse.

 

RMB Talent Unlocked application detail

RMB Talent Unlocked is an intensive programme. Successful applicants must be dedicated, respectful of deadlines and motivated to learn the business of the arts, whilst enriching and strengthening their artistic practice.

 

-This call is open to all women artists 21 years or older.

-Applicants who work across a variety of mediums are encouraged to use innovative materials, as the selection committee will focus on a diversity of artworks, from painting to sculpture.

-The 2021 programme is only open to artists based in South Africa.

-Applicants are required to submit a PDF portfolio containing:

a) four to five works around a central theme/concept,

b) a short artist statement,

c) a motivation letter no more than 300 words,

d) a CV and biography.

 

Artists should have not participated in previous RMB Talent Unlocked initiatives.

Artists should not have had a solo show at a major gallery nor be represented by a gallery.

Artists should be available for a portfolio review towards the end of April 2021 via video call, where they will be expected to present their portfolio.

Artists must commit to attending all peer mentoring sessions and workshops online or in person in Johannesburg. Dates to be confirmed

 

All COVID-19 protocols will be observed.

 

The application must be titled: namesurname_talentunlocked2021 and be no more than 10MB

Applications must be sent to projects.rmbtalentunlocked@gmail.com.

Closing date for applications is April 30, 2021.

Successful applicants will be notified by May 3, 2021.

 

RMB Talent Unlocked represents a great opportunity for women artists to receive mentorship, have their work exhibited at a top gallery and listed on a global online auction in August 2021 – Women’s Month.

 

#RMBTalentUnlocked  / #RMBTalentUnlocked2021 #RMB

ABSA L’ATELIER CHALLENGES YOUNG AFRICAN ARTISTS TO ‘ACT THEIR ART’

(Dr Paul Bayliss, Specialist Art Curator at Absa Group)

35th Edition of Absa L’Atelier challenges young African artists to ‘Act their Art’

https://latelier.absa.africa/

Proudly African bank Absa, in partnership with the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA), officially opened applications for the 2021 Absa L’Atelier art competition and invite young artists from across the continent to enter.

Since its inception 35 years ago, the Absa L’Atelier has showcased and continues to invest in some of the finest young artists from the 12 African countries where Absa has a presence.

“With this year’s theme The Act of Art, we are calling on our continent’s fearless creators to act now and enter. This competition will once again provide an opportunity for visual artists to respond and make their voices heard. We are committed to putting the basic building blocks in place to ensure that young artists from across the African continent can reimagine their futures and bring their possibility to life,” says Dr Paul Bayliss, Specialist Art Curator at Absa Group.

Absa L’Atelier has built a lasting legacy, providing the next generation of young African artists with the support, recognition, and exposure they need to cement their burgeoning careers – and this year will be no different, despite the ongoing presence of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

With travel bans and country restrictions still in place, and vaccine programmes still being rolled out globally, the 2021 Absa L’Atelier Awards Programme has been re-envisioned. “The pandemic has allowed Absa to advance our digitally led approach, and the entire 2021 Absa L’Atelier will take place virtually, from online submissions to hosting a virtual awards ceremony. The adjudication process will also be live-streamed using an online platform, enabling us to lead the charge in being digitally progressive in the visual arts,” says Dr Bayliss.

The prizes for the 2021 Absa L’Atelier winners have also been re-envisioned. “In light of the pandemic, it was agreed with the rightsholders, SANAVA, that winners will receive laptops and data and exposure to intensive virtually-hosted mentorship and masterclasses geared towards facilitating them with skills and opportunities to develop their careers.”

“This enables the winners to take up their prize irrespective of future uncertainty brought about by the pandemic. We believe it’s no longer about giving artists an amount of money but instead affording them with the skillset to develop and thrive as artists in a forever changing world.” explains Dr Bayliss.

The innovative, digitally led approach will ensure that winning artists still have access to highly skilled mentors to support them in growing their brand, teaching them the relevant skills that would best position them as they establish themselves in the industry.

Due to various Covid-19 controls, the 2019 ambassadors, as the three overall winners are called, were not allowed to travel and take up their residencies at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France, or at Future Africa, University of Pretoria nor at Nirox Sculpture Park in the Cradle of Humankind.

The three 2019 ambassadors: Nigeria’s Raji Bamidele, Tanzanian artist Winifrid Luena and South African artist Nkhensani Rihlampfu, will now have an opportunity to take up their prizes and will follow the same virtual mentorship and masterclass programme as the 2021 winners. Discussions are still underway around the prize of Phoka Nyokong, the 2019 Gerard Sekoto winner, who may still take up his residency in France at a later stage.

Multi-media artist Rihlampfu, whose work is aimed at exposing the manipulation of communication through gesture and assumption by using fantastical figures to immerse viewers in a reality founded in perception, looks forward to finally enjoying his rewards. “The Absa L’Atelier is one of the continent’s most prestigious art competitions and I was honoured to be selected as a winner in 2019. I look forward to using all the tools and masterclasses provided by Absa to improve as an artist. I believe this platform will give me the courage to extend my horizons beyond the borders of my native country.”

Nyokong’s Gerard Sekoto Award is handed to the most promising emerging South African artist aged 25 to 35. This Award has been supported for more than a decade by the Embassy of France, the French Institute and the Alliance Française. He was selected for his photographic exhibition, which covered themes such as gender (mis)identity, collective social anxiety and the temporality of the human material experience.

Nyokong encourages other artists to take up the baton for this year’s competition and benefit from the exposure that comes with being part of the Absa L’Atelier community. “Art plays an important role in the lives of many African homes and Absa L’Atelier allows all emerging artists to showcase what they can do – not only to the continent but to the rest of the world. I implore all artists to act now and enter so they too can experience what the next level of art looks like and, in the process, have a real opportunity to grow as an artist.”

The visual arts afford Absa the opportunity to play a shaping role in society by identifying, nurturing, and supporting up-and-coming artists. “Through Absa L’Atelier, we give artists on the continent an opportunity to showcase their work and we are proud to be associated with the competition over such a long period of time,” says Dr Bayliss.

SANAVA President, Dr Avitha Sooful, also commended the enduring partnership between the two organisations and hopes to continue to impact the African visual arts scene for years to come. “Our partnership with Absa has grown from strength to strength and it bodes well for the development of African artists whose work will influence the continent’s creative economy, now and in the future.”

“With this year being our 35th year in existence, we hope to double the amount of entries from our continent’s young and fearless creators, and we call on all artists to act on their art and become part of the L’Atelier legacy,” concludes Sooful.

For further information about Absa L’Atelier competition, visit https://latelier.absa.africa

 

LITERARY PROGRAMME AT ARTFLUENCE HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL

(Left: Joanne Joseph)

Writers and media luminaries give their support for a human rights festival

As today (April 23, 2021) is World Book Day, the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is delighted to announce that media luminaries Joanne Joseph and Eusebius McKaiser will present a specially commissioned feature of the literary programme at the Artfluence Human Rights Festival that takes place from May 5 to 8, 2021.

“We will co-present one hour of content in two parts. The topic we're looking at is African Literature: Processing the Past, Writing the Future. It pertains to our attempts to comprehend our colonised past and will suggest throughways arising out of literature and writing to achieve catharsis,” says Joanne Joseph.

(Right: Alfred Schaffer. Pic Liza de Rijk)

In the first of a two-part programme, Joseph will interview Patric Mellet on The Lie of 1652, and she will speak to award-winning Dutch poet, playwright and this year’s winner of the prestigious Dutch PC Hooft award, Alfred Schaffer, on his poetry on racism and xenophobia. Dr Schaffer teaches at Stellenbosch University. The programme will round off with Joseph speaking to Nkanyezi Tshabalala from Jonathan Ball Publishers, who's been tasked with excavating hidden South African histories and turning them into commercial books.

In the second half of the programme, McKaiser will interview Danielle Bowler, editor of online non-profit media organisation The New Frame.

(Left: Eusebius McKaiser)

“The commissioning of this special literature programme for the Artfluence Human Rights Festival is an extension of the stimulating discussion with authors that was held at last month’s very successful Time of the Writer Festival. Joanne Joseph and Eusebius McKaiser have curated a programme with authors who directly speak to the Festival theme of Voices of Hope, Courage & resilience”, says Ismail Mahomed, the director of the Centre for Creative Arts.

The Imbiza Journal for African Writing which was launched at the Time of the Writer Festival will also be on board at the Artfluence Human Rights Festival. Founding director of the Journal and author Siphiwo Mahala says: “While our core business is publishing, we also want to play an active role in promoting the culture of reading and writing and the development of the arts in general. Imbiza has a very strong academic thrust, and this makes the partnership with the CCA particularly important.”

Speaking specifically to the Journal’s partnership with the Artfluence Festival, Mahala says he supports the Artfluence Human Rights Festival because the voices of writers are also the voices of human rights activists. Also coming out strongly in support of the Artfluence Human Rights Festival is author Niq Mhlongo.

Mhlongo says that he welcomes a human rights arts festival because it will contribute to the social and emotional development of people. He says the Festival will have the power to address issues head-on and will have the potential to combat ignorance.

Playwright Mike van Graan says that he supports the Artfluence Human Rights Festival because it affirms Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Van Graan says that the Festival provides a valuable opportunity to interrogate the state of human rights in South Africa, and in so far as doing that, it exercises the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in the South African Constitution.

Theatre director Janice Honeyman who has adapted several novels to stage plays and most notably the writing of author Chris van Wyk says that the Festival will be a platform to talk about and rethink our rights and values. “There will always be issues to talk about, in particular rape, gender violence and the suppression of freedom of speech. It is obviously our duty to be full of integrity to speak about these issues, and festivals provide the ideal platforms for open discussion”, she says.

The inaugural Artfluence Human Rights Arts Festival with a focus on arts, constitution and democracy will be presented by the Centre for Creative Arts in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands. Voices of Hope, Courage and Resilience will be the theme for the inaugural festival. It will mark the 25th anniversary of the Centre for Creative Arts as a vibrantly creative enabler and advocate for social justice and democracy, as well as the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the South African Constitution. The inaugural festival will run for four days, from May 5 to 8, 2021.

The literature programme, African Literature: Processing the Past, Writing the Future, will be screening on Friday May 7 at 15h00.

The festival is freely accessible and can be watched via www.facebook.com/artfluencefest and www.youtube.com/centreforcreativearts

DURBAN FILMMART ANNOUNCES ACCESS PROGRAMME & SELECTED PROJECTS

(Names from left to right:

Llewellyn James Rice, Chiziwiso Pswarayi, Tenjiwe Pswarayi, Lungile Mayindi, Linda E.T Gumede, Lwazi Duma, Shumelani Mapholi, Siphumelele Nene, Gugu Kunene, Happiness Mpase, Muneera Sallies, Lerato Sokhulu, Mlingane Dube, Samkelisiwe Nkabinde, Yolanda Keabetswe Mogatusi, Mamokuena Makhema, Amanda Lane, Sihle Ndaba, Zoe Ramushu, Thabiso Xolo, Glenn Masokoane, Joe Spirit, Simphiwe Ngcobo, Buyani Gumede, Sihle Mzobe, Mzimasi Ndzombane, Sinomtha Nduna, Danile Annah Mohlamme, Tshego Monaisa, Liese Kuhn, Mandy Mbekeni, Marie Midcalf, Lusanda Mangqangwana and Siyasanga Mbikwana)

The Durban FilmMart Institute is pleased to announce its inaugural DFM Access programme and the 22 projects selected to participate in the programme.

DFM Access is a 10-week development platform for emerging producers. The programme is created to provide a nurturing framework for participants with existing long-form or episodic independent film projects to hone and improve their scripts and project packages. The objective of the programme is to help participants with the necessary skills to participate in programmes and markets locally and globally.

“The virtual incubation programme is aimed to support producers shape their stories, prepare their project presentations and understand the marketplace in order to create effective strategies for their current projects and to plan their professional trajectory,” says Magdalene Reddy, acting General Manager of the Durban FilmMart Institute. “The programme will consist of one-on-one mentorship and plenary sessions lead by industry experts.”

The projects - six documentaries, seven fiction features, nine episodic - were selected from the 2021 DFM project submissions. Three projects participating in DFM Access will be selected to present their project in the 2021 DFM’s Finance Forum as an official DFM project. This opportunity will allow participants a chance to engage with potential co producers, financiers and broadcasters. All participants will be given free accreditation to the DFM 2021.

 

DFM Access 2021 PROJECT SELECTION

 

FICTION SELECTION

Cancelled– Producer and Director: Lungile Mayindi

The Story of a Thorn – Producer: Sinomtha Nduna, Director: Mzimasi Ndzombane

Sweetheart – Producer and Director: Thabiso Xolo

IBUYA – Producer: Happiness Mpase, Director: Gugu Kunene

Grade 10D – Producer: Shumelani Mapholi, Siphumelele Nene

Professional Mourners – Producer: Sihle Ndaba, Director: Amanda Lane

Becoming passionate – Producer: Tenjiwe Pswarayi, Director: Chiziwiso Pswarayi

 

DOCUMENTARY SELECTION 

Windward – Producers: Lusanda Mangqangwana, Lindiwe Mnisi, Katie Taylor, Director: Marie Midcalf

We Are Only Ever Passing Through – Producer and Director: Mandy Mbekeni

THE NEW AFRIKANS – Producers: Glenn Masokoane and Yolanda Ndhlovu, Director: Glenn Ujebe Masokoane

Dingiswayo: King of Kings – Producer: Linda E.T Gumede, Director: Lwazi Duma

My Plastic Hair – Producer: Mamokuena Makhema, Director: Yolanda Keabetswe Mogatusi

THE UNCHOSEN WORLD – Producer: Danile Annah Mohlamme, Director: Linda Keiser 

 

EPISODIC SELECTION

The Oath – Producer: Joe Spirit, Simphiwe Ngcobo, Director: Zuko Nodada

Wisdom Cries Out From The Streets – Producer and Director: Siyasanga Mbikwana

The Psycho – Producer: Buyani Gumede, Director: Sihle Mzobe

Pretty Hustle - Producer and Director: Zoe Ramushu

TWELVE - Producer and Director: Liese Kuhn

Zulu Dynasty – Producer: Llewellyn James Rice, Adze Ugah, Director: Llewellyn James Rice

In Tongues – Producer: Lerato Sokhulu, Director: Muneera Sallies

Keng daai deng? – Producer: Samkelisiwe Nkabinde, Director: Mlingane Dube

Three Sisters – Producer and Director: Tshego Monaisa

 

The DFM Access is produced by the Durban FilmMart Institute with principal funding from the Durban Film Office and Ethekwini Municipality. The DFM Access 2021 is supported by South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation PESP funding.

For more information contact the Durban FilmMart Institute on email: info@durbanfilmmart.com

SAMRO STIMULATES INDUSTRY CREATIVITY WITH MUSIC SUPPORT FUND

The Southern Africa Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) Foundation has approved micro-grants for 100 members as part of the SAMRO Music Creation Support Fund.

The grants were approved based primarily on the soundness of proposals, says SAMRO Chairperson, Nicholas Maweni.

“Following the request for proposals from members, the Foundation received 265 applications, and a hundred were selected by the independent adjudication committee to receive up to R20,000 each,” says Maweni.

“The successful applicants had to demonstrate that their idea was both creatively and financially sound and also stood a good chance of yielding positive results in the marketplace.”

The Foundation set up this fund to help SAMRO members to keep creating.

Maweni says the micro-grants should be considered "seed-capital" to assist many of our music composers in completing their creative projects. “We have noted that the majority of responders to this request for funding expressed a need for assistance with recording their music and to create videos.”

“This initiative is one of many interventions by the SAMRO Foundation aligned with the mission of enabling music creators to manage sustainable music businesses,” Maweni concludes.

DSTV HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 23-29

(“Judi Dench's Wild Borneo Adventure” on April 23, 2021)

As Freedom Month comes to a close, South Africans still have one more public holiday awaiting them on Tuesday, April 27. More than just another day off work, Freedom Day represents and commemorates the anniversary of South Africa’s first non-racial election in 1994 and South Africa’s liberation from apartheid. While DStv has been celebrating freedom for the entire month, there’s still a lot more ahead with special documentaries on History Channel (DStv channel 186).

Highlights include:

Judi Dench's Wild Borneo Adventure

Friday, April 23 on BBC Earth (DStv channel 184) at 19h00

In this new mini-series, Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench takes us on the trip of a lifetime to Borneo. Beautifully filmed with cutting-edge technology, join Dame Dench as she explores the lush rainforests, magical wildlife and spectacular coastlines of Malaysian Borneo. She comes face-to-face with a variety of unique animals and meets the amazing individuals who live alongside them, all while examining the threats posed by global warming and deforestation.

 

Lady Driver (Drama)

Saturday, April 24 on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 15h45

In this feisty motorsport drama, a rebellious teenage girl finally gets her licence and, after some minor accidents, uncovers some pretty interesting family history. With the help of her uncle, she becomes a dirt-track racer and learns to connect with her “routes”.

 (Right: Jessica Chastain appears in “Ava”)

 Ava (Action Thriller)

Sunday, April 25 on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 20h05, and on Showmax

Jessica Chastain (The Help) stars as Ava Faulkner, a recovering addict and former soldier turned assassin. After questioning orders and breaking protocol from her own black ops organisation, she becomes marked for death. This action-thriller has a star-studded cast that includes John Malkovich (Of Mice and Men), Common (John Wick: Chapter 2), Geena Davis (A League Of Their Own, Thelma & Louise) and Colin Farrell (Phone Booth).

 

A Black Lady Sketch Show S2

Monday, April 26 on 1Magic (DStv channel 103) at 21h30

This narrative sketch comedy series touches on culturally relevant themes such as social norms, anxiety, religion, sex, dating and relationships. In addition to being hilarious, it’s also notable for its many firsts in the entertainment sector: the first all-black women writers’ room, the first black woman sketch director and the first series’ cast composed entirely of black women. Each episode consists of five to six sketches with guest stars such as Angela Bassett (Black Panther), Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black), Tia Mowry (Sister, Sister), Loretta Devine (Madea’s Big Happy Family), Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland and David Alan Grier (In Living Color).

 

Baghdad Central S1

Thursday, April 29 on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 22h30

Set in 2003 right after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Baghdad Central follows former police inspector Muhsin al-Khafaji in Iraq. Al-Khafaji must decide whether to become a collaborator with the US-led coalition to find his last remaining family member, his eldest daughter.

 

Just Go With It (Romantic Comedy)

Friday, April 23 on M-Net Movies 1 (DStv channel 104) at 18h35

To marry the woman of his dreams, a plastic surgeon makes up an elaborate lie that involves his assistant and her two kids joining him on vacation to Hawaii. Once there, the kids pretend to be his loving children in front of the woman who he is expecting to marry. Catch this fun-loving family comedy with Adam Sandler (Grown Ups) and Jennifer Aniston (Friends).

 

Step Up (Dance)

Saturday, April 24 on M-Net Movies 3 (DStv channel 107) at 16h35

In this rags to riches story, former real-life husband and wife Channing Tatum (Magic Mike) and Jenna Dewan (Witches of East End) star as street dancer Tyler and pro dancer Nora, respectively. When the two meet at the Maryland School of Arts where Nora is a student and Tyler is completing community service, she convinces him to be her dance partner after she secretly sees him performing. Will this unlikely duo have what it takes to succeed or will their differences keep them from achieving their dreams?

(Scene from "Palm Beach")

Palm Beach (Comedy Drama)

Sunday, April 25 on M-Net Movies 1 (DStv channel 104) at 20h00

A group of old friends reunite at Sydney’s Palm Beach to celebrate the birthday of someone special. But, as with any friend group, secrets can’t stay hidden. When old secrets start to resurface, it threatens to ruin the celebration. Starring Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) and Richard E Grant (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker).

 

 Dark Waters (Drama/Thriller)

Thursday, 29 April on Showmax

In order to stop a chemical manufacturing corporation, DuPont, from contaminating his town, defense attorney Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo of Avengers fame) is forced to jeopardise his own life to expose them. Will he be able to give up everything he worked for to save the lives of many? Also starring Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada), Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption), Bill Camp (The Queen’s Gambit), Victor Garber (Annie) and Bill Pullman (Independence Day).