Sophiatown art revival underway
SOPHIATOWN – Tiffany's Foundation aims to bring social cohesion through art.
Pearl Forbes, a woman passionate about her community, started the Tiffany’s Foundation where she uses social events to bring the community together.
Forbes was a bank manager for 15 years when she realised that her passion for the community was not being fulfilled. With her background in the arts and her deep love for it, she decided to do what most resonated with her. She wanted to give back to the community she loved dearly and which moulded her into the creative person she is now.
The Sophiatown resident, who is also an executive member of the Sophiatown Resident’s Association, said she had always loved the arts, and found that her community was just pulsating with energy that needed to be better honed. Through her foundation, she hosts events that bring people together culturally, so that their differences shine through. The events use a positive outlet that compels residents to look at their differences not as challenges, but rather as an element that should be embraced.
“I am just trying to bring social cohesion through curbing social ills that would force segregation,” said Forbes.
Growing up in the town she loves so much, she was able to see what it is the community lacked and what it excelled in. She explained that it was through noticing how other towns would develop through gentrification and how others would not quite succeed at the attempt that she hoped she would be the guiding force of the Sophiatown art revival.
Forbes said her love for the arts pushes her to accomplish her dreams of a unified community. She also said that her foundation urges people of all cultures to come together in their diversity, with all sorts of music, art and attire.
The foundation hosts several events through the year but their biggest is called The Melting Pot. This is where Forbes organises indigenous dancers to interact with people, letting them see how beautiful diversity is. At the event last year, there were jazz musicians, pantsula dancers, Tswana dancers, Cape minstrels and the main event was the battle of the DJs. This year, Forbes hopes that the event will be even bigger and better.
Details: Tiffany’s Foundation, 079 977 2845.
