David Krut Publishing,
Africa’s No 1 Arts Bookstore and Publisher

 

In the beginning it was more than a little strange seeing primary school children – all still in uniforms, but all from different schools – wandering around the Johannesburg Art Gallery. By choice it seemed. I later learned that they were all here for art classes. These art classes which are sponsored by MTN were formally based at the Johannesburg City Library’s Michaelis Art Department had taken up residence at the gallery after the libraries closure for renovations. In the few months that the MTN Classes have been in operation at JAG (Johannesburg Art Gallery) I have seen – often with amazement – how these children between the ages of 5 to 12 years old wander around with their teacher using terms such as “still life” and “landscape”.

Artsy jargon aside, these art students (which also include an older more advanced class) all showcased there artistic skills with an exhibition in JAG’s print room on August 19th. My first thought when I was invited to attend was one of anticipated boredom; how mind blowing could a children’s exhibition really be? I am very pleased to report that I was pleasantly surprise at the standard of the works on show not only by the older group’s works but also by those of the younger children. At the moment there are only two classes: the beginners class for children, run by former facilitator of the now defunct TAEP (TAXI Art Education Programme) initiative, Rhett Thompson, whose classes are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and the advanced classes for older participants run by Petru Viljoen which take place on Thursdays and Fridays.

   

Having more companies such as MTN giving their backing to the arts can not do anything other than push the South African art scene forward. These classes are proof of this.  Now if they could just get rid of the proverbial ‘insufficient funding monkey’ off their backs. 

   

Unknown Author

Keywords: JAG, Johannesburg, Johannesburg-Art-Gallery, MTN, TAEP, TAXI Art Education Programme