Each year, Randfontein High School (RHS) is the proud host of the premier arts and culture festival and eisteddfod in Gauteng.
In 2010, RHS, which is one of very few performing and creative arts schools on the West Rand, established the Randfontein Arts and Culture Association (RACA) as an additional platform on which pupils could show off their talents. The eisteddfod started small, with a mere 1 000 entries, but has grown to the point where it currently draws up to 10 000 competitors. Participants come from as far afield as Little Falls, Randburg and even Pretoria. Groups and individuals from pre-primary schools, primary schools, high schools and private studios all participate in the competition.
RACA is affiliated to two other performing arts organisations, namely the South African Association of Talent, Modelling and Entertainment (SAATME), and Talent Africa.
RHS has received a massive amount of positive feedback about the festival and according to Alex West, one of the teachers at RHS, it’s great exposure for the school as well. “The pupils take great pride in the fact that it’s their school being used for something that has grown so big,” she said.
The RACA team consists of all the school’s staff members, who work together to make the festival a pleasurable experience. RHS has developed a RACA garden for visitors to enjoy, and has established a RACA shop, which sells t-shirts, key-chains and other mementos, as well as a RACA tuck shop.
Well-known figures such as Willie Strauss, Este Pienaar, Stephen Kotze and Johan van Rooyen who have been a part of RACA since it’s inception continue to mentor, encourage and adjudicate the participants annually.
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