D'ARTS Magazine, by the
Durban Arts Association

NEW TOURISM BOARD

Durban Metropolitan Council's executive committee (EXCO) recently launched Durban's new tourism and investment marketing company by releasing the names of the new board. These are: Tony Ardington (president SA Sugar Association; Rob Bolton (Sun Inter-national's business development manager in KZN); Peter Brokenshire (chief executive of ICC Durban); Jabu Mabuza (managing director Southern Sun Gaming Investments Limited); Frank Marawa (director Hamba Kahle Tours); Paulos Ngcobo (local secretary-general for COSATU); Hexonia Nyasulu, who manages her own consulting practice and Siva Pillay, general manager of Durban's International Airport.

The chief executive officer of the body as well as the restructure of Tourism Durban will soon be announced.

RED EYE @RT

This month, the Durban Art Gallery's RedEye @rt Gallery takes place on March 5 at 18h00. Catering for the 16 to 39 year olds, RedEye offers challenging and innovative work or performances in all the arts disciplines. Membership is R35 a year (students or pensioners R15) and entrance fee to each function is R10.

Details from the DAG on 300-6238.

KLEIN KAROO

The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival takes place in Oudtshoorn from March 25 to 31. A major drawcard will be award-winning actor Marius Weyers who is expected to present a tour de force solo performance in the world premiére of Die man Daaronder. Based on The Underground Man by Dostoevsky, it was translated into Afrikaans by Pieter Fourie and adapted for stage by Jo Gevers.

Hosted by Jannie Pelser, Gloria '99 looks set to be one of the greatest gospel events in South Africa with Manuel Escorcio as guest artist. Jan de Wet will launch his latest album Vreugdevure and other artists include Anrich Herbst, Hanli and Cassie van der Walt as well as ever-popular Sonja Herholdt and son Simeon.

Gloria '99 starts at 17h00 on 28 March.

Bookings for the Main Festival can be done at Computicket until 23 March. For information call Astrid or Leigh-Ann on (044) 272 7771, or visit the website: www.karoofees.com For affordable accommodation call (044) 272 0000.

MADAME POMPADOUR

Madame Pompadour and her Influence upon the Arts of France is the title of a talk given at the DLI Hall on March 9 at 12h30. Hosted by the Decorative Arts Society, it will be presented by London-based art historian and NADFAS lec-turer, Edward Saunders and repeated in Pietermaritzburg on March 10 at 12h30 in the Royal Showgrounds. For details phone Lynette Pittaway on 86-5528.

DA VINCI SCIENTIST

The Pretoria Art Museum will be the only venue in South Africa to host the international exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Artist and Inventor.

Insured for hundreds of multi-millions and offering a chance to see a real Leonardo da Vinci, it will run from April 15 to August 1. Taking over the entire museum, it will present about 250 exhibits of paintings, sculptures, models, rare books, maps and facsimiles of work, including work by da Vinci's students and followers. Unfortunately, the Mona Lisa is too fragile to travel but on view will be a copy made when the original was stolen in 1922.

Entrance is R15 (R10 students, pen-sioners and Friends of the Museum. R5 schoolchildren). Guided tours R5.

For details ring (012) 344-1807/8 or fax (012) 344-1809. e-mail pam@ccp.co.za or http://www.pretoria.co.za/pam or http://www.ccp.co.za.

YOUTH ART

The National Creative Arts Youth Festival 1999, Visual Arts Exhibition and Competition takes place from May 21 to June 4 and aims to stimulate creativity amongst young people in KZN and to encourage them to pursue their endea-vours through substantial cash awards.

The exhibition is open to works in any media by anyone under the age of 21 on January 1999, whether at school, in tertiary institutions or independent.

The closing date for submission of entries is May 13 between 08h00 and 16h00 at Technikon Natal Art Gallery (Library Block, Berea Campus).

Entry forms must accompany each work and these are available at Durban Art Gallery, the NSA Gallery and Technikon Natal Art Gallery.

MEERO

Anyone know an interior designer called Meero, at one time working in Man-chester? D'ARTS received an e-mail from artist, songwriter and composer Kjell K Castberg in Sweden who lost his wallet containing her details. If you can help, e-mail him on castberg@pilgrim.se

FESTIVAL ADVICE

Standard Bank National Arts Festival fringe manager will be at the BAT Centre on March 4 from 12h15 to offer advice to festival participants.

Details from BAT on 332-0451.

FLOWER SHOW

The World Flower Show takes place every three years and is organised by the host country of the World Flower Arrangers. The 1999 Nedbank/Spar World Flower Show was held last month in Durban at the ICC and produced astounding and innovative displays of artistic ingenuity.

By all accounts it was a huge success on both artistic and organisational fronts.

Of the 27 member countries and 450 entries across the world, Di Wayne from Westville took top honours and received the Best on Show award.

South African artists won first prize in 11 of the 20 competitive classes followed by 12 second places, six third places and 16 honourable mentions.

The international panel of judges indica-ted that they were highly impressed with the high standard and level of creativity.

MASTERPIECE

Cecil Skotnes's floral carpet, interpreted by Diamond Bozas, was a masterpiece of ingenuity. While it was created by a group of floral artists with differing styles, the end result was a reflection of the good rapport that exists between artists in this medium.

Some 50 000 people saw the show.

SCHOOLS' FESTIVALS

The KZN Schools' Festival booking kit has been sent to hundreds of schools in the province, inspiring teachers and pupils to start planning for their attendance of the event. Taking place on the campus of the University of Natal, Durban, on April 16 and 17, this year's festival promises a challenging and entertaining programme to the 500 Grade 11 pupils and their teachers who are expected to enrol.

The workshops include Rave on Down, which explores the use of balls in creating rhythms and dance sequences, Theatre of Imagination, the experimental theatre style which stimulates the actor both imaginatively and physically as well as Bums or Buttocks?, a look at the power of words. Also on offer is Pulsa-sen-sation!, a fun exploration of African dance, as well as How to be or not to be a Playwright.

A definite workshop highlight is sure to be Musical Magic led by Landscape Prayers who will guide pupils through a demonstration of composition, arrange-ment and performance, using their African acoustic rock music.

The Festival offers Grade 11 pupils a chance to be part of the arts, to grow as a person through exposure to new ideas and experience. Any schools wishing to take part in the festival who have not received a booking kit, should phone (046) 622-4043 or fax (046) 622-7462.

NAC DEADLINE

The National Arts Council of South Africa exists to promote through the arts the free and creative expression of South Africa's culture and to develop and promote excellence in the arts.

Arts and community-based organisations and individuals may apply for funding while bursary applications are con-sidered for community colleges and tertiary institutions.

The closing dates for 1999/2000 project applications are March 15 (outcome available as from June 10) and August 10 (outcome available from November 15).

Deadline for South African bursary applications for the year 2000 is August 10 with March 15 being the closing date for international bursary applications.

Write to the NAC for an application form which must be completed in detail and sent to The Chief Executive Officer, National Arts Council, PO Box 500, Newtown, 2113, Johannesburg.

Phone (011) 838-1383, fax (011) 838-6363 or email info@nac.org.za

CHARIOT DESIGN

The Millennium Project travels apace.

Now titled Millennium Chariots 2000, it has linked with the Mayibuye Trust which expects to create 2 000 jobs by the year 2002 and 4000 jobs by 2004 through the establishment of Mayibuye Creative Enterprise Centres along the six trade and tourism routes developed by the chariot journeys.

Apart from indigenous motels run by local entrepreneurs, these centres will host up-to-date communication facilities and film screening theatres equipped with the latest digital video disc technology. Many films offered will have an `edu'-tainment theme to appeal to youngsters.

CHARIOT

The design and construction of the cere-monial chariot for Millennium Chariots 2000 will be conducted through a committee assisted by the Khuphuka Organisation and the KZN tourist autho-rity. They will be responsible for the construction of a prototype aluminium chariot which is expected to descend from Thabana Ntlenyana in Lesotho on New Year's Day 2000.

MEETINGS

A series of public meetings and seminars will introduce the tourism routes, the first dealing with the Lesotho route.

For details on these gatherings, contact Lindi Gross on 23-1236, Professor Pitika Ntuli on 082 570-5391 or Mikhail Peppas 082 744-6322. website: http://mzone.mweb.co.za/residents/csread/2000.htm

LEAVING TIBET

The BAT Centre's Menzi Mchunu Gallery will host an exhibition presented by the Tibetan Society. Titled Leaving Tibet and co-ordinated by Bill Warren it opens on March 10.

CULTURAL INDUSTRIES GROWTH STRATEGY

South Africa's cultural industries have the potential to play a vibrant and dyna-mic role in the country's economy.

In 1997, the National Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) commissioned a comprehen-sive research and consultation process to develop the Cultural Industries Growth Strategy (CIGS).

The CIGS process has produced an in-dustrial strategy to boost growth and employment creation in the cultural industries. Other projects, such as in-volvement in the spatial development initiatives and the building and develop-ment of 42 community arts centres, have direct relevance to the contribution of economic growth in South Africa.

GROWING

Worldwide, cultural industries are the third fastest growing sector. It is 20 times cheaper to create a job in the cul-tural industries than it is in light manufacturing. Cultural industries have knowledge, skills and are labour inten-sive. They have the potential to create a wide range of jobs, from full-time to part-time, from skilled to semi-skilled to unskilled.

The craft sector is one of the few eco-nomic alternatives available for rural people to earn an income. The recent census in 1996 indicated that 1.2 million people are engaged in craft and related trade activities in South Africa.

The estimated value of the sector is in the region of R1.8 billion.

There are three national associations linked to craft with 18 different initia-tives (both public and private) currently collecting data on the craft sector.

More than 66 formal markets retail craft and there is an unknown number of roadside or sidewalk markets.

A total of 707 retail outlets are identi-fied nationally, with indications of many more, and 12 electronic web sites advertise South African crafts.

There are at least 21 domestic trade fairs and exhibitions. So far, 18 trai-ning courses and facilities have been identified with 28 training facilities existing for sewing. At least 109 home industry outlets are likely to be involved in the production of crafts.

MUSIC

The music industry has the potential to couple the high-tech information-based industry that will provide South Africa with a competitive edge in the global economy with the job creation it needs.

The total value of the music industry in South Africa amounts to over R900 million. Employment in the core music industry, excluding supply-side employment such as music educators, is estimated at 12 145 people on a full and part-time basis.

FILM AND TELEVISION

South Africa's film industry is developing slowly but consistently. The entire South African entertainment industry is worth approximately R7,4 billion out of a media industry which is worth about R15 billion. The film and television industry itself has an estimated worth of R1,3 billion. An estimated 20 525 people were employed for some time during the year.

PUBLISHING

The book publishing industry in South Africa directly employs approximately 2 800 people and turns over between R1,9 and R2,1 billion per annum. Employment in the publishing industry (including book and Internet sectors but excluding newspapers, magazines and paper milling) is estimated at 80 000 people.

Detailed information contained in four sector reports forms a solid foundation upon which a strategy to develop the cultural industries in South Africa can be based.

The Cultural Industries Development Trust has been formed to fund projects that arise from collaborative efforts within each of the four industries. The Trust will enable the department to implement developmental projects for the cultural industries.

For details on CIGS contact Monica Newton, Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Private Bag X894, Pretoria, 0001.

Phone (012) 337-8517 or fax: (012) 328-7530. E-mail address: k141@acts1.pwv.gov.za.

TALENT SEARCH

The Old Mutual Jazz into the Future Talent Search Concert takes place on March 15 at the BAT Centre at 20h00.

Winners of this prestigious competition stop off in KZN as part of their nation-wide talent search. Entrance is free.

MAGICAL SOCIETY

Interested in magic or in becoming a magician yourself? SAMS, the KZN branch of the South African Magical Society, holds regular meetings on the first Wednesday of every month.

To join the society, phone Desmond Smith on 44-3810 (a/h).

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