African Art Centre appeals for help
The community is encouraged to support the African Art Centre.
THE African Art Centre invites the public to support its shop in Florida Road, Durban.
For more than a half a century, the African Art Centre, one of the longest surviving non-profit organisations of its kind, and which was recently awarded Proudly South African membership, has made a tangible difference in the lives of some of the most economically disadvantaged artists and crafters in KwaZulu-Natal by developing local capacities to improve lives and livelihoods.
What can be more rewarding than buying a gift or something special produced by hand by local artists and crafters, hearing about their inspirations and how they create their products helps tell a story when you share your gift. More significantly, it helps the local economy and impacts on the livelihood of more than 600 crafters currently supported by the centre.
“We work with communities who have limited access to capital, technology and resources in KwaZulu-Natal. Our activities have proved to be an essential condition for achieving sustainable growth and for unleashing under-utilized productivity potentials. Our approach to poverty alleviation and crafter capacity has supported the growth of a contemporary, cutting edge art and craft sector in KwaZulu-Natal,” said Sharon Crampton, director of the centre.
She said there were currently around 115 000 registered non-profit organisations in South Africa and unfortunately many are operating in difficult circumstances.
“Although the African Art Centre, like many other non-profit organisations has suffered financial setbacks and are feeling the economic pinch, we remain devoted to serving artists and crafters from low income, under-resourced rural and urban areas in KwaZulu Natal. We have committed ourselves to solving the crises of poverty and unemployment by striving to become more professional and coordinated in our approach to skills development and the application of business principles,” said Sharon.
She said despite financial setbacks, 2015 promises to be an exciting year for the African Art Centre as it marks its 56th anniversary with a number of special initiatives and events, which include the launch of a new range of unique beaded jewellery in collaboration with local fashion designer Bianca Warren, an exhibition of new work by internationally known ceramist, Clive Sithole, an exhibition of embroidered panels titled, Ten Women, Ten Stories, an exhibition of painting titled Memories, Dreams and Reflections on the landscape by invited young up and coming artists and established artists and birthday celebrations – celebrating half a century of changing lives.
To find out more, visit the shop in Florida Road or contact Sharon Crampton on 031 312 3805 or email africanartcentre@afri-art.co.za
