May 2023 Newsletter

Creative Skills Factory has been busy, we have a lot to tell you.

All of our programmes are up and running, the wonderful Arts and Cultural Appreciation Programme which includes our music, choir, drama and art workshops, our Horse Programme and our Creative Works Programme which is our after-school creative workshops run at our community HUB in Stanford, the Learning Tree.

The news we have to share with you is about our first children's art auction event on the 22nd of April, Earth Day - held at the most fantastic venue - "In the End" ecotourism establishment in Stanford. 

Paul and Loraine Bewsher and Karin Sfreddo's hospitality and the wonderful meal was enjoyed by everyone who joined us for the evening.

There were bigger than life puppets by Mandiseli Maseti, a puppeteer, puppet constructor, designer and scriptwriter, there was a magical puppet show performed by Mrs. Beauty Dumileyo with her beautiful handmade puppets...

The wonderful Mr. Wepener Van Der Walt, alchemist, teacher, juggler, stilt-walker, clown and fire dancer, was our fabulous MC and Auctioneer for the evening.

We were privileged to have Jack Lerole Jnr., aka Sibusiso Lerole, perform for us on the evening. Jack is a penny whistle player and teacher from Diepkloof in Gauteng. He learned from the late Kwela music maestro, Big Voice Jack Lerole and has shared stages with African Jazz Pioneers, Moses Khumalo, Dolly Rathebe, Dorothy Masuku, and many others.

Jack Lerole Jnr. is also one of our facilitators or mentors of our extra-mural music workshops, sometimes remotely, and sometimes in person.

The Fire and Flow Studio fire dancers and teachers from Somerset West were with us on the evening to perform an awe-inspiring fire dance for us. 

The children's beautiful art that was auctioned on the night, was created in our after-school artist-mentored workshops with Antje Shoan and Tracy Algar.

Antje Shoan mentors the young artists who live in Masakhane at the Grootbos Foundation's community HUB in Gansbaai, once weekly.

Antje is a self-taught artist and a qualified Graphic Designer. Her paintings are primarily in oils, are realistic, detailed and vibrant, inspired by nature and the diversity of people. She believes everyone is creative and runs “Bubbles and Brushes” workshops in Gansbaai.

And Tracy Algar mentors the young artists in her group at our own HUB, the Learning Tree.

Tracy is a well-known South African landscape painter with a passion for plein air (outdoor) painting; she finds inspiration for her paintings in the beautiful landscapes around her, capturing the ever-changing light and shadow in her environment. Her paintings are a heartfelt tribute to the land and the place she calls home.

The fundraising auction of the children's art was not only fun, it went very well with almost all of the children's art being sold and we have bought art supplies with the money raised.

A big thank you to everyone who bought a ticket for the event - thank you for your support and for joining us for this special evening.

Thank you to Howard Krut and Anthony Krut who is visiting from the USA, for your support and for organising this wonderful evening for Creative Skills Factory.

Thank you to our performers who made the evening so 'magical'; thank you so much to our hosts for the wonderful meal, the spectacular space and for collaborating with us.

Thank you to our artist mentors who guided and inspired the children's magnificent artworks and thank you to our own team who were on site to help. 

with best wishes, 
from all of us at Creative Skills Factory NPC

Click here if you would like to contribute to our programmes.