- A group of Cape Town artists will have a say in the design of Philippi East's Multipurpose Centre.
- The project is set to guide the future of public artwork.
- Cape Town is well-known for its public art.
A group of Cape Town artists were invited to a workshop to have a say in the design of Philippi East's Multipurpose Centre.
Wednesday's "co-design" workshop started with a walkabout at the centre to give participants a chance to get the feel of the space, and to understand what it will be used for.
They then moved on to the Lansdowne Community Hall for a presentation on the public art envisioned for the project, and to create an artists' brief.
"Public art has become an important focus and brings cultural, social and economic value to our neighbourhoods," said Grant Twigg, the City's mayoral committee member for urban management.
"It reflects our society and can enrich communities. As a creative city, we are committed to enabling all forms of public art as well as nurture and promote local artists."
The programme will be managed through the Urban Management Directorate and the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme.
Cape Town is well-known for its public art, such as Faith 47 and Skubalisto, who created a mural on a wall of the Du Noon library.
Greetings - Let me give you this #ThroughMyLens tour of a few dedicated spaces in #SaltRiver that exhibits street art from the @ipaf_festival_sa @bazart_ngo initiative. Thank you @DoubleOcpt for helping me make these videos. #TheGoodVibez #art #capetown pic.twitter.com/ywhVLKvqzK
— DJ Ready D (@DJReadyD) April 2, 2021
"With this innovative and community-centric project, the city hopes to demonstrate how art can contribute towards transformation in vulnerable communities, establish a positive and stronger neighbourhood identity, and make art more accessible to everyone - and thereby improve our public facilities and spaces," said Twigg.
The workshop was attended by members of various organisations and groups, including the SA National Civic Organisation, the Kosovo Ward Development Fund, the Kosovo Youth Desk, the Sports Council, the Youth Council, the Masonwabe Early Childhood Development Forum and the Women Seniors Club.
Throughout the day, many of the participants shared their perspectives about the culture and heritage of Philippi, a suburb established in the urban and semi-urban area of the Cape Flats region.