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Background
During the past 50 years the African Art Centre has provided thousands of artists and craftspeople with opportunities for self-employment and the realization of their talents. Originally a project of the South African Institute of Race Relations, the Durban African Art Centre has, since 1984, operated as an autonomous, non-profit organization. For the first three decades of its existence, it was guided by the late Jo Thorpe, who virtually single-handed, put Durban on the map as an important centre of black artistic development.
Today operating from premises in Florida Road, Durban the African Art Centre has adapted to the changed political, economic and artistic landscape and expanded its operations. It is proud to be recognized as the longest surviving South African organization involved in the development and promotion of black artists and craft-workers.
The number of artists and crafters supported by the African Art Centre has increased exponentially over the fifty years as have the returns they have realized through their talents. Development and training programs have grown in number and scope and reached ever widening groups of individuals and communities, both in the geographical and sociological sense. Many African Art Centre artists have achieved international acclaim – Azaria Mbatha, Tito Zungu, and Reuben Ndwandwe – but thousands have had their lives dramatically improved through the recognition of their talents.
The African Art Centre has reached out to the poorest communities, rural women, the disabled, unemployed, youth, HIV/AIDS affected persons, frustrated artists craving recognition and development and made huge differences to their quality of life. Starting with providing an outlet and public exposure the Centre moved into nurturing and training individuals and groups whether in townships or remote rural areas. Occasional Saturday classes have developed into sixteen years of Velobala Art Classes (teaching in Fine Art, Jewellery design and Print Making) provided free at the Department of Fine Art at the Durban University of Technology to disadvantaged persons.
Since 2003, the Centre has funded and hosted the Artist of the year Award which gives the artist the financial security to concentrate on creating art. This exhibition is eagerly anticipated by discerning private collectors as well as museum and gallery curators and does much to preserve the heritage of KwaZulu Natal.
The African Art Centre has a commitment to development work. Art and crafts projects, training workshops and exhibitions to promote individuals and community groups are some of the activities that are continuously undertaken. A number of strategic sustainable projects which served to generate economic opportunities for the crafters and artists in both rural and urban Kwa-Zulu Natal are facilitated by the Centre and ensure a steady stream of new entrants into the art and craft markets
The shop in the Centre has been the foundation of the support and development of the artists and crafters. Funding accessed from various funders over the years has provided the opportunity for outreach and the ability to mount special exhibitions.
Objectives:
The African Art Centre is a non-governmental, not for profit organization that contributes to the development, promotion and appreciation of the works of indigenous artists and craftspeople. It does this by:
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Providing an outlet for promoting and selling their work
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Providing incentives for artists and craftspeople
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Assisting individuals and self-help projects to provide an income for rural and urban people
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Helping promote young and established artists/craftspeople by accessing funding for training, development and for exhibitions/ displays and publicity
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Discovering, encouraging and nurturing works of creativity, originality and superb quality
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Communicating and documenting contemporary trends in African art and craft
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Preserving our cultural heritage
The African Art Centre has a reputation, within South Africa and worldwide, for upholding the above ideals.
From the time of its initiation in 1959, the African Art Centre started collecting exceptional Zulu Artefacts and Fine Arts. This collection now is known as THE JO THORPE COLLECTION and has been donated to THE CAMPBELL COLLECTIONS (of the University of KwaZulu Natal) now housed at Dr. Killie Campbell’s residence “Muckleneuk” at 220 Marriott Road Durban. The collection is available for study and to view by appointment.
The African Art Centre has been registered as a Non Profit Company since 1982 registered under Section 21 of the Companies Act. It consists of members whose membership entitles them to elect a Board of Directors and various sub-committees which in turn are responsible for the appointment of the Permanent and Professional staff of the Centre. At present there are ten Directors and four Honorary Patrons.
The Board of Directors comprises 10 members who form the Executive Management Committee. This Committee meets once a month and is concerned with the day-to day running of the centre. Directors and other experts in the field are called upon to serve on various sub-committees; Exhibitions, Archives and Collection, Finance, Development and Marketing.
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