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

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 museum’s mission of contributing to skills and entrepreneurship development among youth of the Eastern Cape.

Arts Incubator Program

The Arts Incubator Program targets young and emerging artists from the Eastern Cape Province with an opportunity to be empowered and be able to manage their careers. Participants will undergo a six 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.

Five outstanding participants within the program will also receive an all paid Education bursary in the field of art from the University of Pretoria.

Criteria

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. Covering 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

Interested Artists are encouraged to email to any of the following email addresses: 

P. Mandela email mandelamuseum5@intekom.co.za   C. Madikida email cmadikida@gmail.com

Applications are strictly for artists residing in the Eastern Cape Province and they should be South African Citizens.

N.B! The closing date for applications is 10/10/2011

Correspondence will only be done with those who meet the criteria. If not contacted before the 20^th of October 2011 , consider your application as unsuccessful. 

 ACTSA mission is to strengthen links between Scotland and the Eastern Cape Province. “The visitation of the group is also in line with the Nelson Mandela Museum’s program of promoting the footprint trail of Nelson Mandela. The trail seeks to inspire both local and international guests about the upbringing of Dr. Nelson Mandela”, Senior Marketing and Communication Manager Nokuzola Tetani said. The Nelson Mandela footprint trail starts at the Museum where visitors are offered an opportunity to see and learn about ‘Parenting a Nation’ exhibition and a visitation to the sliding stone.

The trail will further go to a school where Rolihlahla got the name Nelson. Afterwards, the footprint trail will pass through a village allowing visitors an opportunity to interact with rural communities and to understand the importance of the Rural big five (Cows, Sheep, goats, Horses, donkeys) etc. The footprint package further go via Qunu river where Madiba used to swim with other boys, making cows out of clay, and to a church where Dr. Rolihlahla Mandela was baptised. Ms. Tetani believes the package offered to tourists will give them an opportunity to interact, acquire knowledge and to share knowledge with the rural community. After the tour of Qunu ACTSA members will visit Bethany Place of Safety at Mthatha and Blythswood Institution in Ngqamakhwe. Bethany Place of safety is a children’s home near Mthatha, looking after 60 or 70 children aged 0 – 6, who have been orphaned, abandoned or abused. ACTSA members visited the Bethany in 2004 and 2008. Blythswood Institution is a secondary school in Ngqamakhwe founded as a Scottish mission school in 1877. In 1998 an ACTSA delegation found school in a very bad physical state but when a second delegation visited in 2004 contractors began with a major physical upgrade.

Contact: Fumanekile Wisani, Communication Officer,  047 532 5110

Tambo family with the Nkantolo Community Development Trust at a recent visit at Dalibhunga's place

Ends…