NELSON Mandela once said: ‘I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.’ In July the incredible leader was front and centre as we not only celebrated his birthday through the now globally renowned 67 Minutes and Mandela Day initiative, but also in the re-naming of Nelson Mandela University.
THE Rwandan Government wants to reap more from its creative and cultural industries and this week (Jul 2017) indicated that it plans to inject more funds into the industry. This according to Minister for Trade, Industry, and East African Affairs, Francois Kanimba, who addressed members of the creative and cultural arts industry drawn from different countries around the world in a workshop organised by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) in Kigali.
THE European Commission’s recent study, 'Mapping the Creative Value Chains - A Study On The Economy Of Culture In The Digital Age', is a follow up to KEA’s ground-breaking 2006 research on the Economy of Culture in Europe.
THE South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) is once again the recipient of a generous donation from Van Schaik Book Store in Cape Town, after receiving a significant bulk donation for the SACO library in July.
ENERGETIC swirls and splotches, sinewy line and strong sweeping gestures in luminous enamel as abstracted faces emerge make for a powerful gallery experience. Maritz can capture both a primitive and primal impulse as well as a kind of digital all- pervasiveness that is compelling as an icon of current portend. Over and above this, he has captured a kind of spirit-energy of the collective human imagination. The faces are abstracted in their child-like simplicity, yet ooze with life. Life as it emanates from the subtle sensing apparatus: two eyes and two ears, a mouth and two nostrils. These are the mediators between what is inside and what is outside. These are the doors of perception that negotiate concrete and a not so concrete sense of the real.
IN THE second instalment of what is an eight-stop national roadshow, the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) heads to Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal to share insights into the organisation, its research and tools.
WHEN a colossal like Bra Ray Phiri passes on, a part of you does go because he has been part of our lives as long as we can remember. Growing up in the townships the music of Ray Chikapa Phiri gave us hope and inspired us that a better tomorrow is possible.
ARE you an emerging arts and culture organisation or individual who is active in the community, with a project/venture? Do you think your project/venture has the potential to grow? Are you between the ages of 18-35? Are you based in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng or the Free State?
ARTS and Culture Minister, Mr. Nathi Mthethwa on Thursday, 13 July 2017 launched the Debut Fund Programme for emerging artists at Nangoza Jebe Community Hall in Port Elizabeth. The Fund seeks to strengthen knowledge and skills development for young artists and also give them opportunities to apply for funding to further support their ventures. The Programme is a partnership between the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and the Business Association of South Africa (BASA).
INTERROGATING the world of South African fashion, photographer Johnny Lai Sang has produced images of rare complexity. On the one hand, full of the glitter and glamour of this world and yet on the other hand, a murky, darker, shadow-side emerges. This is captured through an understanding of his craft where contrasts of colour, intensity of light, the ability to focus and yet not focus the lens and an eye for alternative perspectives and vantage points contribute to an interesting show, one well worth a visit.
SOUTH African Cultural Observatory (SACO) Chief Research Strategist Prof Jen Snowball’s recent paper with Serge Hasidi on cultural employment in South Africa explores the role of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in facilitating job creation and economic growth in South Africa.
A NEW vision, one that focuses on the medium of film and video, a first for this country, is perplexing, riveting and surprising all at the same time. The gallery blurb describes the show as one that “seeks to explore the various complexities of video’s relationship to the construction and perception of history and memory”.
