The THIS IS ME Arts Commissioning and Artist Development Programme is an arts development programme primarily targeted at North-West province-based artists. The programme focuses on female artists due to the multitude of challenges they face in a male dominated industry. This year through an open call 41 applications were received and 13 were selected including some male artists.
The brainchild of visionary visual artist, programme manager, designer and all-round creative Amogelang Pila Ditlhale, the programme is her way of capacitating and creating an enabling environment for a select community of artists residing in a province often overlooked by such opportunities.
“I’ve been privileged to be a part of developmental and capacity building programmes such ACT’s (Arts and Culture Trust) Building Blocks programme that imparted knowledge in Digital Skills, Marketing, Governance, Monitoring & Evaluation and Asset-Based Community Development in the Arts (and) that added to what I know and practise both as an artist and a programme designer and manager”, says Amogelang.
It is this passion to share her experiences which led her to apply for funding so she could roll out this initiative. The programme not only seeks to unearth new artists but also provide the more experienced ones with opportunities to create new commissioned as well as be mentored both artistically and from a professional practice angle through business of the arts sessions to equip them with skills to run their own creative enterprises. Amogelang also credits her participation in the Phakama Women’s Academy programme organised by the VWV Group as one of the transformative experiences which inspired her to develop the THIS IS Me Arts Commissioning and Artist Development initiative.
The four month-long programme started in December 2022 focusses on genres such as painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, textile, mixed-media and photography. Mentorship sessions have mainly been conducted online and this has already seen the selected artists create work based on monthly themes such as identity, independence, expression, and equality, all of which will culminate in a 10-day artist residency and a group exhibition which will be showcased at the NWU Botanical Gardens Gallery.
The importance of a programme such as this one cannot be overstated as it has provided a platform for artists who may have been aware of each other but never worked together to work collaboratively, share skills, and exchange knowledge and inspire each other, and as well as have a monthly stipend for the duration of the programme so they can focus solely on their creative endeavours. The selected artists are Amogelang Ngake, Zawadi Mashego, Goitseone Mokonoto, Justice Wander, Evodia Melamu, Laura Molokomme, Nkuly Nkosi, Rehumile Seboka, Rethabile Weevirs, Koketso Tube, Thabang Rampai, Thuso Modikela and Tshegofatso Segotso. The Programme Mentor is Nicola Holgate and Business of the Arts facilitator is Tonderai Chiyindiko.
THIS IS Me Arts Commissioning and Artist Development Programme is supported by ArtBank South Africa, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP), National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC)
