Picture: Open Studios’ recent visit to the Ukhanyo art club
Judith Neilson started the Art Club in Ukhanyo Primary on her first visit in 2022. It now has an even more exciting future thanks to new partners.
Firstly, Noordhoek Open Art Studios has donated R50 000 towards art at the two Masi schools, during their popular annual Open Studios weekend. What a wonderful gift.
Aimee Kruger, one of the organisers of Open Studios, said,” I’m thrilled that the funds raised through Noordhoek Open Studios will be supporting MasiSports. We have recently had the chance to see firsthand what our contributions will be aiding. With my educational background, I am particularly excited that our funds will support art as an extracurricular activity. Also, the partnership between Lalela, MasiSports, and Judith Neilson will enable the training of individuals who can teach art to future students. This initiative is a vital aspect of our open studios, and we are incredibly excited about the new programme”.
Lalela is an innovative art programme that reaches 55 000 learners in the Western Cape. Their programme includes holiday art classes and weekly ones during term-time. Firdous Hendriks, who runs Lalela, explained that their curriculum is designed to help at-risk youths navigate a clear path that is invariably cluttered with the hazards of extreme poverty. MasiSports is delighted that they have agreed to manage and run the Art Club project at both schools.
From the beginning of August, Ukhanyo Primary and Masi High will have 150 budding artists in the Art Club. That makes art one of the most popular after-school activities.
While The Noordhoek Open Studios donation funds the operational costs of the Lalela project in Masi, the Judith Neilson Foundation will fund an internship for a post-Masi High student to learn how to teach art. This will begin in 2025 and will be the first of MasiSports’ internships, helping post-school learners into an employable space.
This new-look Lalela art project partnering MasiSports will bring the required expertise into the schools to bolster art sustainably. The future looks so bright.
Watch this space for the Heritage Day extravaganza.
