Opening of the Mdantsane Arts Centre

By Tabisa Mntengwana
April 23, 2009

OUR vision is to develop skills, act as an academy of arts and attract tourists, says Sizwe Bali, the principal cultural officer in the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture.

He is referring to the Mdantsane Arts Centre, which opened in 2000 and hosts various cultural activities, including dance, music, comedy, drama, poetry, amapantsula, beadwork, basketry, music, violin, piano, and arts and crafts. It was set up by Buffalo City and the provincial department to promote arts and culture in the township.

It is situated opposite the Mdantsane City Library. “These activities are held to encourage youngsters to excel in areas other than school,” he says.

“We have realised that most youngsters are unemployed; others have dropped out of school. Through these programmes some of them have gone back to school and others have found means of making money.”

He adds: “We have hosted workshops before to help street children to go back to school and others to find safe homes.”

In its nine years, the arts centre has gone through challenging times, particularly a lack of funding. “We are trying by all means to recover from the downfall, by securing sponsorship from various stakeholders,” Bali says.

Renovations

Buffalo City, through its Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme, has injected some money into renovations; at present some rooms are being repainted and tiling is being done.

“We are hoping that more sponsors will come and invest in the centre, since there are so many other areas that need renovating and other equipment that is needed.”

Bali explains that since the centre hosts musicians, it needs a recording studio “that will help these artists record their own albums and sell them”.

The centre also plans to host workshops, art and craft fairs, and jazz sessions. To achieve these aims, he says, it needs to collaborate with various government departments, private businesses and other relevant stakeholders.

There are also plans to build an amphitheatre that will seat at least 200 people. Local and national plays, comedy, poetry sessions and music festivals will be staged in the arena.

“We want the amphitheatre to attract both local and national theatre goers and also to host local and national shows.”

Recounting the centre’s achievements, Bali says it has helped a number of unemployed people learn various skills, including leather work, sewing, piano, keyboard, cello and dance. “When the centre opened we held various skills development workshops for the unemployed and matriculants.”

Through these workshops various co-operatives were formed. “Over 300 people have been trained in various skills since the centre was opened,” he concludes.