Mnumzana during meeting with Indian counterpart
19 July 2007
The Consulate General of India in Durban extended an invitation to us as the
Free State Department of Sport, Arts and Culture with five crafters to attend
cross-cultural collaborative workshops with the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre
in Calcutta India. These workshops took place from 20 June 2007 in Calcutta,
India with the theme, "Revival and Revitalisation of Folk Art and Culture for
Sustainable Livelihood".
The main aim of this cultural exchange programme was to have visual artists
from both countries share knowledge and expertise on the work and products they
develop on a usual base. Moving from that premise, these crafters would then be
able to utilise the available material in their countries in order to come up
with products that are different and unique yet appealing to the market.
With recommendations from the Consulate General of India, in Durban, the
Department worked with Ms Nadia Meer, a designer from Durban who is also the
brains behind the "Afrikhadi" concept which brings together work done by
crafters from both countries.
The workshops were officially opened by the Director of the Eastern Zonal
Cultural Centre in Calcutta, Ms Anuradha Mookerjee. The Governor of West Bengal
(equivalent to the Premier of the Province), Gopal Ghandi graced the workshops
with his presence on Saturday, 30 June 2007, to see work in progress done by
the crafters.
The artists worked on a product range that consisted of bedroom and a living
room line. There were also artists working on jewellery products.
The workshop ended with an exhibition that was hosted at the centre on 6
July 2007.The exhibition was a tool to showcase the work done by crafters from
both countries over the past three weeks. The products exhibited had flair of
South African colours as well as ancient Indian craftwork.
The exhibition was also a pedestal to open to the Indian market what will be
in full view at the Durban Fashion Week in South Africa later this year in
September.
The government of India together with the Free State Department of Sport,
Arts and Culture are currently working on a catalogue which will be used to
market the products produced during the workshops.
As the workshops adopted the "train the trainer" method, these crafters are
expected to come back and train other crafters within their projects and assist
other crafters in other areas of the Free State. They are also expected to
continue with the product range. The products will also make part of the
exhibition at the Fashion Week.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Free State Provincial
Government
19 July 2007
