Camtha Art Festival on a mission to robe in youngsters into the art industry
ALEXANDRA – We need to be strategic if we want to help the community overcome the scourge of substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.
Scores of people from all over Johannesburg converged in Alexandra Stadium to witness the local creative talent in action at the first Annual Camtha Art Festival.
The prestigious art festival, which is a brainchild of eight young local artists, attracted tens of art groups from dance to music, poetry to drama and theatre performers and created economic opportunities for local informal traders.
The head of the organising committee and one of the founding members of the festival, Refilwe ‘Fifi’ Pieterse said the annual event was aimed at taking youngsters out of the streets and get them involved in art. “The Camtha Art Festival was born early this year after a group of eight local artists, including myself, saw a need to give back to the community.
“We invited all art groups in and around Alexandra to come and showcase their craft in the festival. We had dozens of groups and individual artists performing today.
“We partnered with the Provincial Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Alexandra Police Station and community-based organisations to make this event a success. Our aim is to take young people out of the streets and bring them to something that will give them future. Alcohol, nyaope and substance abuse have destroyed our young brothers and sisters because they have nothing that keeps them busy.”
Pieterse said the event will take place every year during the school holidays when most of the youngsters have nothing to do. “We need to be strategic if we want to help the community overcome the scourge of substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.
“These youngsters need someone to show them the way during school term breaks like this. The big number of audience turnout is an indication that people are thirsty for theatre and art events of this nature.”
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