DURBAN ARTS

MADIBA IS MISSING?



President Nelson Mandela has gone missing five times!

The losses are five portraits featuring the President that appear in works which were displayed by the Art Works Trust at the Durban Arts Open Forum at the end of August 24 in the Jubilee Hall at the City Hall.

The portraits, all made of waste material and submitted for the recent Art Works Trust Portrait of a President competition and exhibition, went missing after the Forum and it is hoped that someone either put them in a safe place or decided to take them home.

Durban Arts is appealing to anyone who did this to return them as soon as possible.

OUTSTANDING

The items missing include two out-standing prize-winning works: President Mandela collage by Vinodha Nyanar and a bas-relief collage titled Mandela by children from Primere Skool Dirkie Uys. Also missing is Mandela, Past & Present by Graham Montanari; Rainbow Nation by Kameni Pillay.

Another missing item is a paper plate featuring President Mandela by Vusi Khomo and Jason Pillay.

Anyone in possession of these portraits or who has seen them should contact Durban Arts urgently at 23-1236 or bring them to Durban Arts' offices at 316 Avondale Road, Durban.

DAA LUNCH HOURS



Every Wednesday at 13h00 Durban Arts presents free lunch-hour concerts on the City Hall steps.

These provide a platform for new and often untried talent. The line-up for October is:

Oct 2: New Generation - a vibrant gospel singing group accompanied by a band coming from Umlazi, F section.

Oct 9: Ezikamashabalala - one of the top Isicathamiya outfits in South Africa, following the renowned Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Oct 16: Smilley and Thanda - two young ladies from kwaMashu sing hit songs, accompanied by a backing tape and keyboard.

Oct 23: Carillon - a gospel singing group.

Oct 30: Isambulelo - Thabani Mahlobo will play his guitar, accompanied by his band and afro singers, from the Stable Theatre.

For details of lunch-hour concerts, contact Patrick Zungu on 23-1236.



MAYOR'S WORDS



The following are salient comments by his worship the Metropolitan Mayor Councillor Obed Mlaba at the Durban Arts Open Forum held on August 24.

"The artist has an important role to play within a community's development. I believe this role has to be better under-stood. The concept of the artist as creator is accepted. But has our society as a whole accepted the artist as facili-tator, reporter, analyst and activist?

"The relationship between art and community has to be nurtured so that art is connected to the very heart of the community's cultural life. When a com-munity recognises the value and impor-tance of the arts to its own development, it becomes a priority to ensure that the arts remain a stable and effective part of that community."

FRAMEWORK

The mayor also mentioned how the arts fitted in local government's framework.

"The Metropolitan Council's priorities are fourfold: crime prevention, a clear environment, promotion of tourism, wealth and job creation. The promotion of arts and culture should be geared towards meeting these end- states. So for example, the arts and culture scene should be one of the key reasons for people to visit Durban - there is enough sun and surf to be found elsewhere.

"Visitors should be given an insight into some of the unique talents which have made this region so vibrant and give it, its own cultural identity."



PRODUCTION SAVED



Durban Arts literally saved the day for the newly-formed Singers Studio's first production, a presentation of Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas, at the Playhouse Drama last month.

The new Singers Studio was launched by singer Stacey Almond who has worked at Covent Garden and Glyndebourne to encourage local talent by giving them a chance to appear in opera. Much emphasis is placed on seeking out promising black singers, then training and developing them for the musical stage.

The Studio is not run as a business venture and Stacey simply receives a modest remuneration in pupils' fees.

HOPE

Stacey's hope that enlightened business interests in the City would support the venture didn't materialise and with only four days to go to opening night, the organisers were still R2 000 in the red.

In despair they appealed to Durban Arts Director Noel Fairhurst who was him-self still waiting for funds in terms of the Durban Arts full grant, in order to budget for 1996/97.

"Nonetheless the plight of the Singers Studio was real and acute", comments Noel. "Such a project could not be allowed to fall. Something had to be done. In our thrifty way we had a couple of thousand rands spare from administration at the end of 1995/96 budget year."

Durban Arts chairman, Mi Hlatshwayo, also recognised the need to help this good cause as it is Durban Arts' policy to support up-and-coming artistes in all disciplines. And so the show went on and the cast of acquitted themselves well in their first operatic production and are now rarin' to go for the next one!

Ad: Davenport

Page 3: