The Stanford Children’s Art Exhibition on the 26th of September showcased not only the art of the children who participate in Creative Skills Factory’s Stanford and Gansbaai after-school workshops – but also the art of any child who wanted to take part including the learners attending the other local schools – the beautiful artworks were displayed on the walls of the Okkie Smuts Primary School Hall for the children’s family and friends, and the many local and not so local visitors to Stanford for the magnificent Chelsea Flower Show hosted by Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.
Following Regina Broenner’s welcome to everyone attending the Opening of the Art Exhibition, it was a privilege for Creative Skills Factory to have Philippa Murray of the Grootbos Foundation speaking to the audience in the Hall.
The children who participate in both our music and drama workshops also took part in the opening event by performing a soulful song for us.
Puppeteer, Mrs. Beauty Dumileyo told an enchanting story with her puppets at the exhibition’s opening event and we were also very fortunate to have the 2023 STAR Search winners performing too. The Zwelihle Young Brothers and Nolundi Nonono sang beautifully giving some of us goosebumps with their songs.
In August, we entered the community children’s artworks into the Western Cape Department of Education’s annual art competition – and over the moon to hear the news that we had 5 finalists and later, the news that 2 of the art group children won bronze and silver medals for their beautiful art.
Regina accompanied the children and their family members to Caledon to receive their medals at the awards ceremony in the Caledon Museum.
Our Creative Skills Factory art workshops are run on a weekly basis by artist, Antje Shone in Masakhane at the Grootbos Foundation’s Hub [https://grootbosfoundation.org/].
Thank you Antje, thank you Grootbos Foundation and congratulations to the winners of the competition. Very well done to all of the children who create beautiful art in the workshops.
We would like to express our appreciation to Rockpool Media for their collaboration, the Okkie Smuts Primary School, musician Emanuel Jardine of the Manuel Jardine Foundation, Vuyokazi Siza our Music and Choir mentor, Drama teacher Raine Waring, Artists Tracy Algar and Antje Shone for their mentorship and facilitation of the community children in our programmes, Philippa Murray from the Grootbos Foundation and Roland and Mary-Anne of Food-4-Thought for transport, and David Krut Projects for your support. Thank you to our wonderful team of community women too – where would we be without you!
