The Arts Incubator program is an initiative of the Nelson Mandela Museum focussing at enhancing skills of Artists within the Eastern Cape Province. This is in line with the Nelson Mandela Museum mission of contributing to skills and entrepreneurship development among youth.

The program targets young and emerging artists from the Eastern Cape Province who aspire to be empowered and be able to manage their artistic careers. Participants will undergo a six to eight week intensive workshop.

Selected artists will not just be exposed at different aspects of art but will also receive a stipend:

The program will focus on:

1. Visual Literacy
2. Studio Practice
3. Basic Computer Literacy
4. Professional Practice
5. Business Acumen.

Eligibility

1. 18 years and older
2. Good matric pass
3. Practising artist
4. Works and Reside in the Eastern Cape Province and be a South African Citizen
5. Be passionate and have Interest in Arts Education

Requirements

1. Detailed C.V.
2. Certified ID Copy
3. Cover letter specifying why you think that you should be considered for the program.
4. Brief description of your current work and your future interests.
5. 5 images of your current work

2012 Call for applications

Interested Artists are encouraged to send their applications via email to the Attention of:  Bongiwe Qotoyi email mandelamuseum21@intekom.co.za or qotoyibongie@gmail.com drop your CV accompanied by 5 samples of the work

Applicants should strictly reside within the Eastern Cape Province and be South African Citizens.

N.B! The closing date for applications is 11/05/2015

Correspondences will only be done with those who meet the criteria. If not contacted before the 14^th of May 2012, consider your application as unsuccessful. 

The Nelson Mandela Museum is proud to keep the spirit of ‘The Mother of Civil Rights’, in Mrs. Rosa Parks and the legacy of the ‘Father of Democracy and Human Rights’ , in Mr. Nelson Mandela alive. In honouring these two  world renowned great Civil and Human Rights Activists, the Nelson Mandela Museum in partnership with the US Consulate launches an exhibition titled “Dear Mr.  Mandela…Dear Mrs. Parks” Children’s Letters : Global Lessons”.

 The exhibition will be on show at the Constitution Hill in Johannesburg from Wednesday 28March 2012.

“Dear Mr. Mandela …Dear Mrs. Parks “Children’s Letters: Global Lessons Exhibition is a travelling exhibition launched in 2008 at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu. The exhibition showcases samples of letters written by hundreds of children around the world to Mrs. Parks and Mr. Mandela illustrating values and goals shared by two leaders born from different continents.

As an activist, Mrs. Parks once said: “I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about the freedom and Equality, Justice and Prosperity for all people”. The ‘Mother of Civil Rights’, in Mrs. Parks can also be remembered for her gallant defiance against racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery, Alabama. Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat for a white person and she was eventually arrested, charged and convicted of civil disobedience.

His partner in solidarity, Dr. Nelson Mandela dreamt of a Democratic society in which all people live in harmony with equal opportunities. Mr. Mandela once said: “I found myself restricted and isolated from my fellow men, tailed by officers of the Special Branch wherever I went; I was made by the law a criminal, not because of what I had done, but because of what I stood for.”

Nelson Mandela’s activism saw him imprisoned, outlawed and even forced to call for the establishment of uMkhoto Wesizwe and later went underground. Mr. Mandela can be remembered by his role as volunteer in chief of the ANC youth League, M-Plan and later his famous speech during the treason trial.

The exhibition of ‘Dear Mr. Mandela…Dear Mrs. Parks’ showcases the analytical portrayal of the two leaders by the children of the world in their plight to see a Non Racial and a Non Sexist society where everyone enjoys Equal rights, security peace and harmony. The showcasing of the exhibition representing the two human rights activists will help rejuvenate human consciousness of the current generation in the fight against Unjust Laws, Racism, and Xenophobia for the benefit of the next generation. We have an obligation to preach and be guided by the values of Mr. Mandela and Mrs. Parks. It is through the sacrifices made by these two Human Rights activists that we enjoy peace and freedom from the bondages of segregation.

“We hope that the questions raised in the children’s letters – enquiring the two international icons how best to use the lessons learned on their journeys – will inspire the next generation to become responsible global citizens,” said Nelson Mandela Museum CEO Khwezi ka Mpumlwana.

The exhibition will be officially opened on the 28^th March 2012 at the Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg. The official launch will be at 15h00 at the Constitution Hill.

The Nelson Mandela Museum is proud to dedicate this exhibition to these two great heroes during the Human Rights Month.

The Nelson Mandela Museum is located in Qunu 600m from N2.  Public transportation to the Museum is available from Mthatha and other Major routes. Museum opens daily. Guided tours are available from 08h30 to 16h30 daily. Entrance is free however donations are encouraged. The Nelson Mandela Museum be found on the web at www.mandelamuseum.org.za.

For further information please contact: Ms Nokuzola Tetani

Cell: 082 483 4643/Work: + (0)47 532 5110/+ (0)47 5380217

Email: nokuzola@nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za

The father of the nation will be celebrated through a series of activities spread over two days on Wednesday 21 March and Thursday 22 March 2012.

The event will kick start with a Freedom Walk that will start next to Nelson Mandela’s Victor Verster Prison House replica to the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu.

The occasion will see the official handing over and opening of the Sports Facilities donated by the German Development Bank. The sporting facilities have been donated to bridge a gap between rural areas and Cities. The existence of this facility will expose rural youth different sporting codes practised mainly in the cities.

The event of this nature will be embraced by the presence of Honourable Minister of Sport Mr Fikile Mbalula, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Chief Zwelivelile Mandela Ah Zwelivelile, Deputy Minister of Arts & Culture Dr Joseph Phaahla, Honourable Speaker  Mr FD Xasa – Eastern Cape Legislature, The Nelson Mandela Museum Board composed of; fearless leaders such as Advocate Phathekile Holomisa who fights tirelessly for the recognition of traditional leaders, Mrs Pumla Madiba with outstanding energy in her fight for the preservation of indigenous knowledge, Dr Phumza Dyantyi a struggle stalwart with special passion for  development of rural communities, the young lion Chief Mlimandlela Ndamase a hardworking outspoken advocate for youth empowerment, and others who will be announced on that day. Mayors and councillors from OR Tambo District Municipality, Chris Hani District Municipality as well as KSD Municipality will be also present. Kwezi ka Mpumlwana, C.E.O of the Nelson Mandela Museum said; “Madiba’s dream is becoming a reality, his utmost wish was for Nelson Mandela Museum to become a springboard for the development of rural communities”.

The occasion will remind the South African Communities  that Madiba grew up in a rural area where resources of this nature were unavailable, and therefore the sport facility sponsor by the German Development Bank working hand in hand with the Government of Lower Saxony and the Dept Of Sport, Arts, Recreation & Culture also made Madiba’s dream a reality. There is no better way to honour his legacy.  This attests to his strong belief and practise that ‘a healthy body is  healthy mind’ as he was engaged in sporting activities during his struggle days.

The Nelson Mandela Museum is located in Qunu 600m from N2.  Public transportation to the Museum is available from Mthatha and other Major routes. Museum opens daily. Guided tours are available from 08h30 to 16h30 daily. Entrance is free however donations are encouraged. Penn Nelson Mandela Museum be found on the web at www.mandelamuseum.org.za.

For further information please contact: Ms Nokuzola Tetani

Cell: 082 483 4643/Work: +(0)47 532 5110/+(0)47 5380217

Email: nokuzola@nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za

Notes to the press statement – Summary of Activities

                                                 “Free at last”

Celebrations feature various activities such as; Freedom Walk from Next To Nelson Mandela’s Victor Vester Prison House Replica  to Nelson Mandela Museum, Freedom & Human Rights Talk, Handing Over of German Development Bank sponsored Sport Facility, Launch of a Youth Ambassador Programme, Sport and a Hiking Trail will  spread over two days on Wednesday21^st & Thursday 22^nd March 2012.

On the 21^st of March – The Freedom Walk From 07h00 with participants from various schools within the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality and Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and the Centenary Presentations.

On the 22^nd March- Official handing over of the Sporting Facility by the sponsor- the German Development Bank in partnership with the Department of Sport, Recreation, arts and Culture and, and Honourable Minister Mr Fikile Mbalula, for the benefit of the youth teams within the O.R.Tambo Region. Establishment of the Youth Ambassador Programme; WSU and Grade 12 learners coming from various schools in the Eastern Cape will have an opportunity to interact with one of the respected political analysts in the country- Professor John Hendricks . The political analyst will look at the ‘Years of Colonisation, oppression and its effects’ in order to stimulate dialogue with the participants. During his youthful age Rolihlahla Mandela was inspired by the stories told by his elders about the impact of colonisation and oppression in the lives of African’s. The event will introduce a Hiking Trail composed of sites of significance directly associated to Nelson Mandela known as the The Nelson Mandela Heritage Trail or the Footprints. Soccer tournament and various sporting codes will also be the main feature of the day. All these activities will take place concurrently as the museum strives to accommodate various interest groups.

VENUE                        : NELSON MANDELA MUSEUM-QUNU

TIME                            : 09H00 on both days

DRESS CODE            : Smart casual

The Nelson Mandela Museum Council and Management, apologise for the inconvenience caused.

The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre, now the new home of all the exhibitions of Dr. Nelson Mandela, including those that were housed at the Bhunga building in Mthatha, has been a home to the five Arts Incubator Program participants for the last eight weeks. The program aims to afford artists the opportunity to access knowledge by providing workshops and seminars by professionals coming from both the art and business sectors through an eight week program held at the museum in Qunu. The Nelson Mandela Arts Incubator Program is fully funded by the museum.

Artists are drawn from different areas of the Eastern Cape Province and are mentored into gaining an understanding between the arts and business practices in order to manage and grow their careers and businesses.

When the program was launched in 2010, we never expect to be rewarded within the short period of time. One of our program participants Sikhumbuzo Makhandula’s works was selected for the 2011 prestigious Sasol New Signatures competition. In the final selection of the competition, his work won the 2^nd place and was chosen among a group of artworks which were selected all over South Africa.

 “Their experiences during the incubation process will surely now and in the future inform; how they look, think, act, produce and even talk about the art in general. The title, ‘Crossings,’ is thus an outcome of a short but intense time and process of their ‘transformation’. Churchill Madikida.

Through various partnerships, the Arts Incubator Program will strive to provide program participants with various opportunities and networks that will ensure sustainable careers within the arts industries.

“The Arts Incubator program has and it will always play an important role in the development of art. We are proud about the achievements of the program and we also seen previous participants showcasing their art work at the 2011Sasol New Signatures competition. It is through achievements of this nature that we pledge to the private sector to come on board and assist the Nelson Mandela Museum in the sustainability of its programs.

“Our mentor Dr. Nelson Mandela Once said:”Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. “As an institution we pledge to fulfil the educational values preached by Dr. Nelson Mandela”, said Nelson Mandela Museum C.E.O. Khwezi Mpumlwana.

Media are invited to attend a small handover ceremony at 10.30am. It is a building with a rich history, and something of a chequered past. It was custom-built in 1927 for the Transkeian Territories General Council, a body described later by Nobel Literature Laureate Nadine Gordimer as “placating chiefs for their loss of authority to white magistrates”. The late Govan Mbeki, in his book, The Peasants Revolt, reflects that the Bhunga never succeeded to any appreciable extent in diverting the people from their demand for direct representation in Parliament. Ultimately, it was the United Transkeian Territories General Council “that accepted the Nationalist Government`s Bantu Authorities Act, with all the misery accompanying its implementation”. From 1976 the Bhunga housed the National Assembly of the so-called independent Republic of the Transkei. Since 2000, on the 10th anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela’s release, it has been the home of the Nelson Mandela Museum. Now, the Bhunga will be closed for extensive renovations – from tomorrow for at least 24 months. Johan Schoeman of Impendulo Design Architects said: “As Principal Agents we promise to work extra carefully to deliver a state-of–the–art museum experience. We are thrilled to be associated with Mr Nelson Mandela through the creation of a better museum to help preserve his legacy’. The building contractor is Inyatsi JV Somana Construction, whose recent track record includes major projects for the University of Pretoria and constructing a boutique hotel in Johannesburg. In addition to the contractors, the renovation will provide jobs for 20 local residents under the Expanded Public Works Project. Museum CEO Mr Kwezi Mpumlwana said he looked forward to returning in 2014 to a thoroughly modern facility, with a controlled environment suitable to preserve valuable artifacts, new exhibitions, and new spaces for visitor interactivity. In the meantime, Mr Mpumlwana said, the museum would focus its attention on its facility, and the community, of Qunu. Mthatha’s temporary loss would be Qunu’s permanent gain. The closure of its Mthatha headquarters would trigger an immediate upswing in the number of visitors to its facility in the village of Qunu, where the former President spent much of his childhood and later built a retirement home. “The challenge we have set ourselves and the community goes beyond providing a world-class heritage experience, in the footprints of Mr Mandela, to creating opportunities for the people of Qunu to benefit from the visitor influx,” Mr Mpumlwana said. The Museum already acts as a catalyst for economic development in the community. Besides the direct employment opportunities created since its establishment 11 years ago, some of the people have received training as tour guides, while others’ benefit from their involvement in the production and sale of local art and craft. “What we are saying to the people is: We have laid the foundations, now let us build! Mr Mandela has inspired people across our country, our continent, and throughout the world. Qunu offers the authentic sights, sounds and textures of Mr Mandela’s childhood and his retirement,” said Mr Mpumlwana. “If 50 000 more people visit Qunu over the next 12 months than in the previous year, what extra benefits will local people derive?” Ends… For more information please contact Ms Nokuzola Tetani on 082 4834643 or email her on nokuzola@nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za.

Dr. Nelson Mandela with Chief Zwelivelile Mandela and Mr. Pali Lehohla

On the photograph above he is flanked by Chief Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, his grandson, and Stats S.A. Statistician- General Pali J. Lehohla.

 Image coutersy of Oryx Multimedia and Mvezo KomKhulu.

Qunu J.S.S. on the Footprints Tour

The Nelson Mandela Museum is accompanying learners from the first school attended by Mr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, in Qunu, on a journey of discovery to important heritage sites associated with Mr Mandela in the Western Cape. Qunu Junior Secondary School is a place that shaped Mr Mandela’s life. It was there that he acquired the Christian name, “Nelson”, from his first teacher, Ms Mdingane. “The school is our next door neighbour in Qunu,” said the Museum’s Marketing and Communications Manager Ms Nokuzola Tetani. “We have what we call The Footprints Tour in Qunu, where visitors are exposed to some of the authentic sites and sounds associated with Mr Mandela’s growth. Those with stamina can extend their tour beyond Qunu to the nearby villages of Mvezo, where Mr Mandela was born, and Mqhekezweni, where Mr Mandela was raised by the AbaThembu Regent after the death of his father. “What we are showing these learners is that the footsteps of our icon extend way beyond the villages, through the cities and across the world. We are exposing them this week to Robben Island, the old Victor Verster Prison, Parliament and Table Mountain. I believe they are having the time of their lives,” Ms Tetani said. This journey of discovery not only exposes learners to particular historical sites, but further seeks to add to their understanding of the political, economic and social conditions in our country. Thus, the journey also takes the learners to Cape Town’s old Gugulethu Township, where they will visit the Gugulethu Seven Monument and forge links with a local school. Media wishing to accompany the pupils to the Groot Drakenstein Prison on Thursday should please contact Ms Tetani (details below). Ends… For more information: Ms Nokuzola Tetani, and Tours, 047 5325110 or 082 4834643, nokuzola@nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za.

 Issued for the Nelson Mandela Museum by Oryx Media.

The closure of the Bhunga Building will not affect normal Museum operations. The Museum’s exhibition offering is being expanded at its multi-facetted Qunu site – also known as the Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre. The Museum also offers accommodation and conferencing facilities, indoor and outdoor sports, a restaurant and secure parking Various cultural and adventure tour options customised to suit visitor needs are available. These include the popular Footprints Tour, also known as the Nelson Mandela Heritage Trail, that allow visitors to walk in the footprints of Nelson Mandela visiting various sites of historical significance directly associated with him from Mvezo, Qunu and Mqhekezweni, to the University of Fort Hare. The upgrading of the Bunga Building has been on the cards for several years as the structure does not fit the expectations of a modern museum. The Bunga was custom-built in the 1930s to house the region’s administration. Its upgrade will take up to 30 months. The state of the art Nelson Mandela Museum building that will emerge will meet 21st century standards, and will once again feature a display of gifts awarded to Mr Mandela by the people of the world. The architecture and specialised internal environmental control system will meet international heritage and preservation standards. Furthermore, the renovation of the site will help boost the image of the Eastern Cape Province and the city of Mthatha. The new structure will include a reference library, IT Centre, children’s room, theatre, exhibition halls and orientation centre. The Museum would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience and urge all stakeholders, South Africans and members of the international community, to take the long walk with us to Qunu.

 For more information and Tours, Contact:

Senior Manager, Marketing and Communication: Ms. N.Tetani Tel: (047) 532 5110/ Cell: 082 4834643 Email: nokuzola@nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za Marketing and Communications Department Nelson Mandela Museum, Bunga Building, Mthatha