Nyanga Arts Initiative

Objective: To build an Arts Centre/Theatre complex in Nyanga Township, Cape Town, South Africa.

How: By organising UK fund raising activities through schools, colleges, industry and other like minded organisations.

Amount: ZAR1,200,000 - approx £100,000.

Who: UK fundraising facilitated by Dramart Productions Ltd. SA management hosted by Artscape, Cape Town.

When: Fundraising throughout 2006/07 aiming for an opening in 2007.

PDF files for download: UK Info Document | SA Info Document
You will need Adobe Reader (available as a free download) to open these files.

Nyanga Presentation

Nyanga Presentation 30 MB - file size 30 MB, recommended for broadband users.

Nyanga Presentation 6.5 MB - file size 6.5 MB, recommended for dial-up modem users.

STOP PRESS.......

NYANGA LATEST NEWS & UPDATES.......

20/03/2006 Official launch of the Nyanga Appeal by Dramart Productions Ltd.

21/03/2006 Amanda & David Shackley, two of the UK organising team have now left to start their new life in SA and prior to their departure they held two events, both starring Deaf Shepherd, the well known local band, of which Dave was a founder member and bass player. The first gig was at The Black Lion Hotel in St Albans, where the band were accompanied by yet another well known local band, Box of Frogs, and a raffle was organised, raising nearly £600.00. The second was at The Six Bells, also in St Albans, and as it was held two nights before Dave and Amanda's departure, and also was the last time Deaf Shepherd would be performing together, it was mobbed! An auction of Promises was arranged, which included such exciting promises as a helicopter flight, a days sailing and a date with Debbie the Barmaid (which went for £324!).

The money is being collected and it is hoped that £1,500 will be the eventual total raised by both events.

Amanda and David have now arrived in Swellendam, and are busy renovating and preparing their property ready to receive gap students from the UK. Hopefully some of these will be able to work on the Nyanga project.

09/06/2006 Harrogate Grammar School's Drama Department led by Lucy Hodgson donate £2,000.00.

07/07/2006 Guildford Methodist Church donate £110.00 after collections at the evening Drama Clubs.

25/07/2006 The Hayesbrook School, Tonbridge, Kent donate £100.00

18/12/2006 Soham Village College donate £2,500.00 from monies raised from their Xmas Carol Concert held at Ely Cathedral.

26/02/2007 £750.00 received in a donation from the St.Albans Rotary Club after William Ilkley and Amy Woodworth (Sixth Form student at St Albans High School for Girls) gave an evening talk about the project to the St Albans Rotarians.

18/02/2007 St. Albans High School for Girls return from a week long course with Dramart in Cape Town where they visited Linge School and the Nyanga site and worked on a drama project with 10 local township children.

28/02/2007 Nyanga Arts Development Centre publishes its first annual progress report. To read this report in PowerPoint file format click here.

01/07/2008 - latest updated information on the progress in South Africa.

Artscape in Cape Town are continuing with their capital project development works and have very kindly sponsored a project manager and office space for a 5 year period. The first funds from our appeal were spent on purchasing a computer, printer and other related office equipment for use by the project manager. The first report by the project manager is posted here (Powerpoint file). Artscape are pursuing a bid for £2million to develop a large purpose built arts centre complex and are continuing their own funding support dialogue with the Flemish Government and the local and national SA governments.

As a result of this, the decision was taken by Dramart to continue with immediate support to the two schools in Nyanga with Performing Arts status, namely Linge Primary School and Oscar Mpetha School. After consulting with the schools it was agreed that financial support to facilitate the purchase of new musical instruments would be most valuable and in October 2007 a full set of Marimba and 10 Djembe Drums were ordered and delivered in Cape Town to coincide with the visit of Soham Village College. Soham Village College had a fabulous trip in October and worked with 10 local township children from Oscar Mpetha School, concluding with a stunning performance in the Waterfront Amphitheatre. At the end of this performance, the marimba and drums were officially presented to the teachers and students from Linge Primary School (who also performed in the Amphitheatre).

These instruments now belong to Linge School - through your kind donations - and are being used daily by the students as part of their music and performing arts lessons. In April 2008 Dramart returned to Cape Town, this time with Langley Park School for Girls and again the children from the township schools came together with the girls from Beckenham to collaborate on another exciting drama presentation which was performed this time both in Oscar Mpetha School and in the Waterfront Amphitheatre. The instruments were borrowed back from Linge School for this project.

On this trip Dramart purchased and presented a further 5 Djembe drums and a violin from the UK. We are looking forward to seeing how the African children progress with their violin lessons now!

Whilst in South Africa in April, myself, Amanda and David (Shackley) were able to have detailed meetings with the Head and other staff members from Oscar Mpetha School and we have now agreed a partnership programme with their school (as well as Linge School) and our objective is to provide a further set of Marimba plus Drums for them by February 2009 - when St Albans High School for Girls will be in Cape Town.

The most exciting news is that we have taken a decision to bring over 10 township children (5 from each of the 2 schools) to the UK in June/July 2009. The objective of this is not only to give these children the experience of a lifetime, but to send them back to their schools after a 3 week stay here with £10,000. This will be enough money to support the running of the performing arts departments in both schools for many years to come and will allow for purchases of equipment and the provision of afterschool and weekend performing arts classes/workshops and other programmes. This will be of benefit to all students at Linge and Oscar Mpetha.

The idea is that the children will visit and perform and run workshop sessions in as many schools as we can get to support us whilst they are here. The schools will buy the sessions on a half-day or full day basis. We are also planning to host a grand celebrity summer ball with them - 'OUT OF AFRICA' which will take place here in Yorkshire and which will be an full evening of African dress, African food, African wine, African entertainments. More information on this event will be posted on the website.

I hope you agree that your donations have been put to a very good use so far and we also hope that you will continue to support us in our endeavours to enhance the lives and opportunities of these incredibly talented children.

DRAMART PRODUCTIONS LTD
'Working with the Professionals'

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