In 2013, the Department of Sport, Arts Culture and Recreation piloted an Integrated Arts and Culture Programme for Schools and Communities. Ten (10) community artists from Lejweleputswa were identified, contracted for six months and assigned to work with school learners. The programme received overwhelming support from the schools and communities in order for this initiative to become an annual programme.
In 2014, the National Department of Public Works showed an interest and supported the Integrated Arts and Culture Programme under the Ministerial Determination Grant on Expanded Public Works Programme – Environment and Culture Sector which created relief on the side of the department as artists now had entered into ten-month contracts which provided seasonal stipends for their services in this programme.
In the 2014/2015 financial year the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation was able to contract ninety five (95) community artists as EPWP (Expanded Public Works Programme) Arts and Culture fieldworkers. Thirteen (13) of the ninety five (95) were selected for a learner ship programme in arts administration. This integrated programme which also included all Arts and Culture Institutions, the Tsa Bonono and the Tsa Setso programmes reached one hundred and twenty seven (127) schools throughout the Free State province. This programme aims to restore and nurture the culture of learning through the arts in the schools.
In the current financial year the department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has again contracted ninety five (95) community artists who represent all five (5) districts and work as EPWP Fieldworkers to facilitate the Integrated Art & Culture Programme which is spread throughout the Free State and in all Arts and Culture Institutions in the province.
Integrated Arts and Culture Programme through Expanded Public Works Program will be active in the following towns:
Mangaung Metro Municipality
- Bloemfontein
- Thaba Nchu
- Excelsior
Lejweleputswa District
- Welkom
- Allanridge
- Wesselsbron
Private Bag X20606, Bloemfontein, 9300
- Hertzogville
- Dealesville
- Bothaville
- Bultfontein
- Hoopstad
- Theunissen
- Virginia
- Verkeerdevlei
- Winburg
- Bultfontein
Fezile Dabi District
- Sasolburg
- Parys
- Edenville
- Frankfort
- Kroonstad
- Heilbron
- Viljoenskroon
Thabo Mofutsanyana District
- Phuthaditjhaba
- Bethlehem
- Vrede
- Harrismith
- Ficksburg
- Ladybrand
Xhariep District
- Zastron
- Smithfield
The period of employment of the ninety five (95) EPWP fieldworkers is until 31 March 2016 and they receive monthly stipends for the duration of the programme.
The expected outcomes from the programme for this year are:
- MACUFE Schools Arts Festival – October 2015. Best performing schools in Drama, Traditional and Contemporary Dance, Poetry and Traditional Music will form part of the Schools festival during Macufe in Bloemfontein
- Visual Art Competition on South African National Symbols (targeted at Grade 8 – 10 learners). Applications to participate will be distributed to schools. Once schools have applied, workshops on competition rules and guidelines will be conducted for the Educators and Learners. The eliminations will happen at District level and the winners will receive mentoring prior to the provincial eliminations, which will coincide with Macufe Arts and Crafts Exhibitions, October 2015 in Bloemfontein.
District Festivals
EPWP Field workers will also work with community groups in preparation of the district festivals that will happen in November 2015. More details will be provided on rules of participation.
Enquiries:
Tankiso Zola
Tel: 051 4104742/4786/4719
Cell: 082 940 2392
E-mail: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
Barry Swanepoel
Tel: 051 407 2932
Cell: 082 417 7108
Email: sacrbarry@gmail.com
