City’s new BRT system inspires artists
On Thursday the Springs Community Hall hosted a workshop as part of The City of Ekurhuleni’s Public Art Project.
The campaign is an initiative that was conceptualised in facilitation of the city’s Harambee Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
Stakeholder and activations manager for the public arts project, Pamela Makwela, says the first phase of the project involved a briefing session for all Ekurhuleni artists.
The said artists were selected following the open calls that were made at the Springs Library Auditorium at the beginning of June.
Six of the selected artists are from Springs.
“We called all artists to attend a briefing where the project would be outlined to them and the subsequent stages leading up to this workshop,” says Pamela.
Pamela adds that the artists were given an opportunity to tour the city and to identify points at which their art designs can be used for all the BRT stations.
The artists are said to have toured nine different towns, including Springs, all of which are planned to be BRT points.
“Today’s workshop, which is the third phase and one of three workshops, is about the artists engaging with creative directors to discuss and reflect on parts of the tour that inspired them and areas in the city that can be used as canvases for their art,” says Pamela.
Artists will collaborate together to create pieces of art that are reflective of all the artists’ contributions.
“The aim is for artists to create artworks that are unique and tell a story about the city as well as its people,” says Pamela.
Pamela says the BRT system and its effect on people’s lives will be reflected in the artworks produced by the artists.
“The aim is to capture the essence of the difference this BRT system will make in people’s lives,” she says.
The final culmination of this project will be an exhibition in July, where the public will be invited to a venue which will be communicated at a later stage.
“Overall we are so happy with the selection of artists and the way in which they have engaged today,” says Pamela, “I am pleased to see the variety of art genres and look forward to the artworks we can expect to see at the exhibition, which will be subsequently translated to the various BRT points.”
