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1st showing of 2009

Creativity workshops 2009

empowerment

Exhibition Collection at Design Indaba

Mielie shows the waythrough design

Proudly promoted by the Cape Craft & Design Institute

cape

CRAFT

Official newsletter of the Western Cape Craft Sector FEB ‘09

February Craft

Sector Meeting

4 Feb ‘09

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index

Cape Craft & Design Institute | Iziko laseKapa loBuchule noBugcisa | Die Kaapse Instituut vir Handwerk & Ontwerp

C/o CPUT, Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, 75 Harrington Street, East City Cape Town

+27 (0)21 460 3982 ccdi@cput.ac.za www.ccdi.org.za

sector news

design matters

in the marketplace

enterprise development

creativity, innovation & design

ccdi gift corporate warehouse

FIFA 2010 world cup updatethis city

billboard

A bright new look

• Call for papers on African Ceramics • National Craft Competition 2009 • Limpopo Province delegation taps into CCDI best practice model • Exhibition Collection at Design Indaba • Outreaches to our regions • Programme Panel open for bookings

• Empowerment through design• Saint Etienne’s new vision• Design Indaba EXPO• Crafter? Artist? Designer-maker?

• Trends and Market Information Workshop • Retail Events Calendar 2009• Copycats – Important lessons • Expos are expensive, but effective

• Why is craft-training not in the school curriculum? • 2009 Africa SMME Awards competition

• Creative Sparks • Creative and FabLab Workshops 2009

• Yongo’s Pottery hand-makes 725 pots in one month

• Message from the Board chairman• Craft Sector meeting: February

• Cape Town Tourism: Numbers remain stable, despite tough times • PICTURES OF YOU offer for CCDI-members• Loeries makes its new nest in Cape Town!

We think this newsletter is quite a phenomenon. The first one appeared on 15 May 2002 and was all of 2 pages long. And it was born out of the need to communicate information, opportunities and our activities to a growing list of craft producers on our database – then standing at 63.

What you have in your hand – or on your screen – now is the result of thousands of hours of accumulated experience, sweat and tears. Sixteen pages packed full of – we hope – interesting and useful information that is distributed to nearly 3000 people via email, our website, our offices and the network of the libraries and community centers. Readership includes 321 retailers, agents and buyers; 940 individuals in the public and private sector and the balance being people working in the sector to make and sell beautiful products.

And Marjorie has made this all happen – with a process that starts on the first of each month and ends on the last – 11 months of every year, for 8 years. That talks to unquantifiable dedication that deserves a knighthood! (or is that sisterhood?)… Thank you Marjorie.

So back to the beginning – happy 2009 – may it be full of good things and good business. Enjoy this edition – and please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve it.

All the best.

Erica ElkExecutive Director: CCDI

CCDI Activities

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CLICK our quick link index for easy navigation

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“Focus lens on organics, environment”

Reuben Kadalie has been chairing the CCDI-board for some months now. He took the position from former chair, Mel Hagen, who walked the tightrope for 8 years. In 2003 Reuben led the National Advanced

Manufacturing Technology Strategy for Craft, and thus began a long association with the CCDI.

At present he is the Contract Research and Development Manager for the CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing Operating Unit in the Western Cape, with no direct links to the craft industry, but he has demonstrated an undying passion for the economic development of the industry. He gives his impressions and hopes for the year to come.

Reuben says the industry was previously associated with traditionally low-skilled and dispersed activities with limited economic impact, involving rural communities with limited access to capital, technology and resources. The emphasis used to be on subsistence survival.

“The challenges are enormous, especially for the rural poor to access finances or appropriate resources to become self-sustainable and/or economically viable as small business enterprises. Craft producers fail to balance the authenticity of the cultural aspects and indigenous value of the product with its commercial value.

“South Africa’s rich cultural diversity and heritage provides a unique value proposition that can catapult the sector into the mainstream economy of wealth creation and global competitiveness.”

“The establishment of the CCDI about nine years ago has helped the craft industry, particularly in the Western Cape, to reinvent itself. The CCDI continues to create value-addition along the value delivery chain with crosscutting support and development in terms of funding access, human capital development, market development, technology and skills transfer and logistics management.”

Reuben hopes that with the many other hats that he wears, especially the National Cleaner Production Centre, natural organics and environmental friendly products will become a cornerstone of CCDI programmes.

Message from the Board chairman:Reuben Kadalie

“South Africa’s rich cultural diversity and heritage provides a unique value proposition that can catapult the sector into the mainstream economy of wealth creation and global competitiveness.”

You are invited to attend the monthly Craft Sector meeting, which the CCDI offers to give you a great opportunity for networking, and receiving information, insights and knowledge – at no cost to you. The meetings always take place on the first Wednesday of the month.

The next meeting is on

Wednesday, 4 February 2009, at the CCDI premises, 75 Harrington StreetSpeakers will be Marjorie Naidoo, from the CCDI, on her recent visit to the Design Biennale and Conference in St Etienne, France, a town that aims to establish itself as ‘the undisputed design capital of France’. And secondly, Justin Fiske, creator of mobile sculptures, will share how his recent residency in Japan has influenced his work.

For more information or to recommend a speaker or topic for a future meeting, contact Sarah Polonsky, 021-460-3724 / polonskys@cput.ac.za.

February Craft Partnership Meeting

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The Craft Competition staged by the National Department of Arts and Culture is a call on all South African crafters working with wood, clay and textiles / fabrics.

The Department is looking for exciting and innovative work that reflects a celebration of South African craft, heritage and expression.

The closing date is Friday, 27 February 2009.

For more information, and to download entry forms, visit the website, www.craftcompetition.co.za, or contact Eunice Mothetho-Rooi, info@craftcompetition.co.za. cell 079-721-1438, tel. 011-833- 3329.

National Craft Competition

Call for papers on African Ceramics

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CCDI was honoured to host a delegation from Trade and Investment Limpopo in January, who wished to tap into our best practice model for craft development, promotions and marketing.

The delegation indicated that lessons learnt from this visit would inform a strategy they are currently putting together for developing and promoting crafts in Limpopo.

Seen here are: Back fltr: Thandeka Tyatyantsi (2010 Programme Manager: CCDI), Vuyisile Mshudulu (Market Access Facilitator Export & Retail: CCDI) and Kgaugelo Chere (Craft Facilitation:TIL. Front fltr: Erica Elk (Executive Director: CCDI), Emily Khunou (Senior Manager Trade Promotion: TIL) and Marjorie Naidoo (Manager Communications & Sector Promotions: CCDI).

Limpopo Province delegation taps into CCDI best practice model 2009

The Centre for Visual Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, is hosting an African Ceramics Conference from

18 -27 September 2009. The theme of the conference is “African Ceramics”. The conference intends to address the histories of ceramics in Africa, and to engage with the current Archaeological, Ethnological, Anthropological and artistic use of this medium in Africa over the millennia.

The aim is to improve our overall understanding of ceramics in past and present African societies by promoting interdisciplinary discourse. Through this conference we also hope to stimulate a series of similar conferences to be held throughout the continent of Africa to provide a broad data base of research and

unity of perspective within this medium.

Submissions are invited from Archeology, Ethnology, Visual Culture Studies, Cultural Studies, Cultural History, Art History, Tourism and Leisure Studies, Gender Studies, Architecture, Anthropological studies or any other fields that are involved with African ceramics. All papers should pertain to the specific theme of African ceramics. The ceramics can be made in Africa or outside the continent but must illustrate a specific African influence. Closing date for submissions is Sunday, 15 February 2009.

For more information, contact armstrongj@ukzn.ac.za.

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First showing of 2009Exhibition Collection at Design Indaba

Following the call of the CCDI for entries for the 2009 Exhibition Collection, we received some amazing submissions. A panel representing the retail sector, industrial design, art curation, craft and creativity, made a selection. The first showing of a part of the Collection will be on display on the CCDI stand at Design Indaba, D3, opposite the coffee shop.

During this year the complete Collection will be displayed once (time and venue to be confirmed). Groups of items will be selected and compiled for Touring Exhibitions that will be displayed at various strategic venues throughout the city and surrounds. The Touring Exhibitions will also be taken to the regions of the Western Cape and will form part of the CCDI’s Rural Outreach programme.

Objects from the ICONIC [craft] exhibition on the CCDI stand at Design Indaba 2008.

Open for bookings

Outreaches to our regions

The panel is a one-on-one process which will help you access appropriate support from CCDI and those of our partners, and help you make decisions about where you want to take your product and business.

The Programme Panel consists of CCDI staff with design innovation, business development and market access skills and knowledge. During the session – which can last 50 minutes, you have an opportunity to talk about your product, your business and the challenges you face. It is an open-ended discussion but through the process you will find out more about the CCDI activities on offer; you can get practical advice and market access opportunities.

Programme Panel interviews take place every Wednesday - except the first of the month, when we have Craft Sector Meetings. The first session is at 10am and the last at 2pm, with bookings being filled up from the morning.

While you are here you can also arrange to have your products photographed for our website and update your database information.

The Programme Panel is for ‘new comers’ and ‘old hats’. Last year 107 craft producers made use of the Panel.

To make a booking call Mandisi on kibitom@cput.ac.za | 021-460-3662.

Craig Carbutt, CCDI Rural Outreach Co-coordinator, will be visiting the regions of the Western Cape throughout the year. His schedule for the first quarter is as follows:

To arrange a meeting with Craig, or register to exhibit on the CCDI-stand at the KKNK, contact Craig on carbuttc@cput.ac.za | 021-460-3815.

Dates Region

9 – 13 February Eden16 – 19 February Overberg9 – 13 March West Coast16 – 20 March Winelands23- 27 March Karoo

4 – 11 April Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, Oudtshoorn

The Programme Panel is open for bookings again

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Design Taxi: The driver speaks

design matters

Empowerment through design

Is design elitist? Do we, as designers and artists, breathe rarified air and speak an exclusive language above the heads of all the ‘little people’? This is criticism I’ve heard over the years, leveled at me,

and everyone else in the fine arts or design professions.

My problem (as much as I like the esoteric discussions) is that I’m impatient for tangible ‘results’: I want to see art and design reaching into people’s lives and grabbing a hold of, in one way or another, their innards. As much as I like defining my own principles, and mulling over the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ of what I do as an artist, want visual, physical proof that creativity makes a difference in people’s lives. Here in Cape Town, in the Western Cape of South Africa, I have come across proof that design, art, and craft can empower people.

In conversation with two entities (one a small business and one an NGO) whose missions are inextricably intertwined around creativity and job creation, I had the opportunity to witness design in action.

“Life is cheap”, I’ve heard on more than one occasion; and work is scarce, especially for people with minimal or inferior education due to the legacy of the Apartheid era. So walking into Adri Schutz’s workspace, in the attic office above the Mielie shop (her business) at the Montebello Design Centre in suburban Cape Town, was a refreshing moment.

The walls of Mielie’s workspace (and office, tucked into a corner under one of the eves) are covered in bags – the hallmark product of the company. Mielie (which means ‘corn’ in Afrikaans) bags are handcrafted from recycled hessian (burlap) salvaged from old corn bags – hence the name – and are crafted using a rug-hooking technique to ‘weave’ off-cut strips (‘stenter strips’) from the knitting mills into bold designs. The bags are stunning – bright, well-considered ‘eye candy’ pieces; it’s easy to see why they have such a hungry international market as well as a loyal, local following.

What is impressive beyond the design sensibility is that Mielie employs eighty people, most of them women from the townships surrounding Cape Town. Each weaver signs her name on a tag after she completes a bag, ensuring that the bag carries with it not only a label but a personality. From Khayelitsha (the biggest township) to its final destination in Germany, France, USA or any number of countries and cities around the world, the bag makes its journey as a design item as well as a conduit for a deeper, social connection, Adri described this as follows: “I want to create a community of people for whom owning…a Mielie bag is maybe the end product but actually, it’s like you share certain values, certain interests, and really get to connect with people and ways of doing things.”

Adri continued, pointing out the larger reality the bags weave together: “Whether this person can’t speak English and comes from a rural village in the Ciskei [rural area in northeastern South Africa] and you’re a wealthy person living in New York, you actually can share so many things.”

What ties the work of Mielie and the CCDI together is their individual efforts to harness the beauty of hand-crafted design in improving people’s lives, and igniting the personal, economic, and artistic repercussions therein. Flipping the question around, I asked CCDI Executive Director, Erica Elk, and Adri how empowerment impacts

the design process. “It’s actually not about craft, design or art. It’s actually about the creative process, and the object that results out of that,” says Erica. “There’s no end point or magic solution to the process... the key to empowerment is giving people the skills, the ability, and the confidence to do what they do without you.”

For Adri, as the designer of Mielie’s products, it’s a matter of coordinating the expansion of the “Mielie language” – the confluence of colors, motifs, and use of materials that is constantly reinterpreted by the weavers. Working with a group of women whose spoken language and culture is different from her own, Adri has learned to allow room for the personalized approach each weaver takes – from the drawing of the designs (none of them have had any formal art training) onto the hessian, to the actual weaving itself (some weavers pull the fabric tighter than

others, impacting the way certain designs are created). A design process dependent upon an unpredictable color palette (“we have absolutely no control over [it]…because we just take what the world throws away,”) is made even more exciting by the “serendipitous misunderstandings and reinterpretations of things.”

The creative process is the wheel that switches on the power, whether it’s in the visual arts, design or craft. The off-shoots and up-shots to this process are many, as history has shown us throughout the years. On the ground level, in contemporary times, and in particular, in the present day climate of the Western Cape, it’s inspiring to see design hinged to the social mission of improving people’s lives. And this wheel keeps turning; the design field expands and is strengthened because of new voices, new eyes, and new hands that reshape, reinvent and reinvigorate. We all – designers, artists, craft producers, consumers, and producers – reap the benefits of an empowered design paradigm.

Hannah Morris, www.designtaxi.com.

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Saint Etienne’s new visionundisputed Design Capital of France

Design Indaba

Don’t miss a visit to Design Indaba – it is THE show in the year where designers showcase their new and adventurous products, network with other designers, and just generally enjoy the vibe of intense creativity. You are part of the city’s Creatives – let your presence be felt!

Simulcast for Young Designers. The Design Indaba Young Designers Simulcast is a live broadcast, from the main plenary session to a second auditorium, for youngsters who

cannot afford to attend the main Design Indaba Conference.

Speakers this year include Dai Fujiwara, Issey Miyake’s creative director, as well as product design giant Marcel Wanders, founder of the Mooi boutique, renowned for his gloriously whimsical interior living spaces, furniture and accessories.

Book through Computicket.

During my sabbatical leave I returned to Saint Etienne in the Rhône-Alps region of France. Returned - because

in July 2007 I was privileged to be part of a Department of Arts & Culture study tour to France - part of an exchange agreement on Design between the two countries. Saint Etienne was one of the cities we visited and I found their goal to become the undisputed design capital of France, fascinating.

Saint Etienne is a picturesque, medium-sized city, which is re-creating itself following a post-industrial existential crisis. The city previously had an arms manufacturing industry, which dwindled as they ran out of coal and iron resources. The city fathers had to devise a plan to revitalize their city, grey and dirty from the mining and manufacturing activity. They shared a common vision with the then head of the 100-year old arts school, Jacques Bonnaval, and came up with a blueprint to resurrect the city, create jobs in the knowledge economy, and put the city on the map. They cleaned up the buildings, added Design to the arts school curriculum, and set about establishing the city as a Design City.

On the premises of the old arms factory the Cité du Design is being established - opening 2009 - which houses the excellent Arts and Design School, an internationally-linked Design Research Centre, and which hosts a Design Biennale. A number of prominent designers have made their home in Saint Etienne, and the city has embarked on exciting city beautification projects.

The Biennale showcased nearly 20 different Design exhibits (designs by industry, by students, international collaborations, prototypes, exhibits with a green message…). The visitor figures for 2006 were 80 000; this year they again poured in, braving the rain, snow and the perpetual November grey-ness. They came, they looked, they looked some more. No sales agenda here – people were merely updating themselves on who was designing, and what. The only objects for sale were to be found in the well-stocked and bustling book shop!

The Biennale co-incided with the Cumulus Design Research Conference, which focused on global issues affecting responsible design, and the education of new designers. Speakers from design institutions across Europe, as well as the US and Japan, repeatedly asked the question: Should designers be creating just Another Object? Should they not be designing Solutions to pressing social, economic, ecological problems? And if they do design an object, designing up to the point of marketing the product is not enough; more attention should be paid to looking beyond - to the lifespan of the object, its afterlife and safe disposal.

For a small city, Saint Etienne is doing an amazing work of re-imaging itself. Also, through the Research Centre, they are pro-actively building links between design and art schools in the Rhône-Alps region and across France, with design professionals, and international design schools and designers, and are providing Design Leadership to virtual design teams in finding solutions to various problems.

I believe my home city, Cape Town, is well on its way to becoming the undisputed design capital of South Africa. A design-partnership with Saint Etienne might be most rewarding.

Marjorie Naidoo, CCDI Manager Communications & Sector Promotion.

EXPO – 23-26 Feb ’09

St Etienne under the first blush of the winter snow.

The fridge of the future? Displayed at the St Etienne Biennale.

Which word best describes what ‘crafters’ do, and who they are? The British Craft Council has adopted the term ‘designer-maker’ as the preferred term – ‘designer’ since

they engage fully in designing the object that will be made; and ‘maker’ as most of them personally make and shape the objects they have designed. Most other NGO’s working in the craft sector in Britain have followed suit. Do you have views on the matter?

Let us know. Email Marjorie on naidooML@cput.ac.za.

Craft Artist? Craft producer? Makers? Designer? Designer- maker?

A wonderful example of the blurry lines between the act of crafting | creating art | conceptualising and designing. European Field, 1993, by Anthony Gormley, consisting of 40 000 clay figurines, varying between 8 and 26 cm in height. On show at the Musee d’Art Moderne, Saint Etienne, France, courtesy of the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris.

Trends & Market Information Workshop

in the market place

In August 2008 the CCDI participated in the Isandi-stand at the Norwegian Gift Fair. From left is Anton Ressel, Consultant: Arc Consulting; Sarah Polonsky, CCDI Enterprise Development Manager; Eunice Mlotywa, Iliwa la Phakade Manager, supplier to Isandi; Vuyisile Mshudulu, CCDI Export & Retail Market Access; Khanya Mpuang, CCDI Programmes Manager; and Leonard Shapiro, Development Practitioner, Craft South Africa.

The CCDI, with its Norwegian partner Isandi, invites all export-ready companies - both existing and prospective suppliers to Isandi - to a Trends and Market Information Workshop on Tuesday, 3 March 2009 at CCDI, 3rd floor, 75 Harrington Street. The event will start at 9:00.

Interested enterprises or individuals should register by 13 February 2009 - contact Vuyisile Mshudulu on mshuduluv@cput.ac.za | 021-460-3944. The workshop can accommodate 20 people. A non-refundable commitment fee of R50-00 will be charged.

Crafter? Artist?

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Retail Events Calendar 2009CCDI EVENTS: February - November 2009

Local & National Events facilitated by the CCDI. Stands within these events fall under the banner & management of the CCDI. Craft producers will be required to submit samples for selection and retail stock.

Date Event Name Event Type Venue

23 – 26 February Design Indaba Trade Show CTICC, CT

12 – 15 March SARCDA International Trade Show Gallagher, JHB

3 – 4 April Cape Town International Jazz Festival Consumer Show CTICC, CT

24 – 27 April Decorex Cape Trade / Consumer Show CTICC, CT

28 – 30 July CCDI Trade Days Trade Event CCDI, CT

6 – 10 August SAHC – Decorex JHB Consumer Event Gallagher, JHB

20 – 23 August SARCDA Xmas Trade Show Gallagher, JHB

3 – 6 September Cape Homemakers Consumer Show CTICC, CT

26 – 28 September SARCDA Cape Trade Show Grandwest, CT

2 – 4 October Outdoor Expo Consumer Show Franschhoek

24 – 26 October Khayelitsha Festival Consumer Show Khayelitsha

6 – 8 November Baby Expo Consumer Show CTICC, CT

OTHER EVENTS: February – October 2009

Not facilitated by the CCDI. Craft producers participate on their own steam.

Date Event Name Event Type Venue

Local & National Events not facilitated by the CCDI. Individual craft businesses might wish to participate under their own banner. For specific event organisers’ details, contact Jo-lene on 021-460-3562 | sathorarj@cput.ac.za.

20 – 22 February The Women’s Show Consumer Show CTICC, CT

25 – 27 February Meetings Africa Trade ShowSandton Convention Centre, JHB

7 & 14 February Rondebosch Craft Market Craft MarketCampground Rd, Rondebosch

15 – 18 March Hostex JHB Consumer Show Sandton, JHB

19 – 22 March Decorex KZN Trade/ Consumer Show ICC, Durban

7 & 14 March Rondebosch Craft Market Craft MarketCampground Rd, Rondebosch

27 – 29 March Gardenex & Green Living - JHB Consumer ShowCoca Cola Dome, Northgate

4 & 11 April Rondebosch Craft Market Craft MarketCampground Rd, Rondebosch

9 – 12 May Tourism Indaba Trade Show ICC, Durban

28 – 31 May Good Food & Wine Show Consumer Show CTICC, CT

2, 9 & 23 May Rondebosch Craft Market Craft MarketCampground Rd, Rondebosch

28 – 31 May Rooms on View Trade /Consumer Show Sandton, JHB

9 – 11 June Markex JHB Consumer/Trade Show Sandton, JHB

13 – 16 June Cape Town Book Fair Consumer Show CTICC, CT

26 – 28 June Natural & Organic Product Exhibition Consumer ShowCoca Cola Dome, Northgate

2 – 11 July National Arts Festival Craft Market Grahamstown

8 – 10 August Baba Indaba Consumer Show CTICC, CT

24 – 27 September Hermanus Whale Festival Craft Market Hermanus

14 – 16 October Propak Cape Trade Show CTICC, CT

24 – 26 October Greyton Rose Festival Craft Market Greyton Glo

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Plan carefully and include spend in your budget for exhibitions – you don’t want to miss out on

Meeting face to face with thousands of new buyers •

Developing a quality database •

Showing your full product range, instead of a catalogue •

Letting buyers experience your product with all five senses •

Getting immediate feedback on your product range and services •

Overcoming objections and accelerating the buying process •

Raising your profile in the industry •

Re-visit your marketing budget. Include a well structured exhibition marketing campaign and brace yourself!

An important lesson is to be learnt by all creatives through the experience of one of our most well-known designer-makers, Willard Musaruwa of Feeling African.

The Tatu range was created in collaboration between Stephen Burks and Willard in 2006 as part of a programme funded by the Kellogg Foundation and supported by the CCDI and the American-based NGO, Aid to Artisans. With the assistance of Enrico Bressan of Artecnica it was later refined for the international market. Willard has a global distribution agreement with Artecnica, but the range is manufactured in Cape Town, supplying jobs and livelihoods to 8 people.

When we discovered that replicas of the Tatu range were being sold under a different name, the CCDI Executive Director, Erica Elk, made work of the issue and addressed a letter to the company CEO, and copied in high-ranking diplomats, ambassadors and

sector role players. As a result the production and distribution of these replicas was stopped.

Erica says she is extremely happy for the results borne from these actions. “There is no reasonable argument for a large company to copy the products of smaller players and undercut their market, thereby depriving other opportunities to generate business.

In his reaction Willard said that “people like this are destroying the only dream for the township people.”

Erica warned designers and design-makers to be aware and keep a lookout for possible copies of their creations. “ What we learned from this example – which may not work every time – is that there are creative ways to address these matters, other than litigation. We cannot allow unethical behavior to tread on the dreams of our people and their livelihoods.”

Copy Cats important lessons

Expos are expensive,but effective

The copycat coffee table bears a remarkable likeness to the Tatu range. Feeling African’s original Tatu range that is manufactured in Cape Town and distributed globally through Artecnica.

“We cannot allow unethical behavior to tread on the dreams of our people and their livelihoods.”

Tanja Gerber of Exhibition Marketing Consultants, Liquid-Space, re-enforces the importance of expos to interact with your target market. She says if you normally are conservative when allocating budget for participation in expos and exhibitions, you need to ask yourself “What do expos offer my company, brand and product that no other advertising medium does? The answer is quite simple - interactivity.

Lindelwe Tati displays her sophisticated leather bags at SA Handmade Collection. Exhibitions offer the opportunity to interact directly with your client.

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Why is craft-training not in the school curriculum

enterprise development

Sue Kingma is the owner of Nuno, a job creation craft business making felt fashion accessories. Sue is very

concerned about the growing lack of craft-training in schools. As a result of her work with craft producers, she highlights her experience and observations, and argues that if government is serious about craft as a major job creator, it should be offered at school level.

Nuno offers work opportunities to young South Africans. We teach sewing, beading, neatness, quality standards, and the ability to produce the same product again. Work seekers start unable to sew, knot, knit, crochet, measure, or draw. They have not learnt any of these skills in school.

“I work with handmade felt. Here at Nuno we make our own wool felt, fused onto fabric. The lines have to be straight. You need to be able to measure differences, skewness, visually. Some of our artisans struggle endlessly with straightness and judging a similar measurement when making these scarves.

Waldorf schools emphasis craft skills. They say that hand-eye coordination skills and spatial perception skills are developed through exercising craft skills. They encourage a love of the handmade and self-made in their curriculum.

Even if people don’t learn craft to use it in their work, they learn an appreciation of the handmade, and become supporters of craft businesses. They become the audience who buys craft.

Employers are complaining of a lack of hand-eye coordination in work seekers today. Maybe it is partly because of a lack of craft education in schools?

My daughter is in a government school – the curriculum offers no craft, and only a little art. I am concerned for her development and for the development of our youth in general.

There is nothing that can be done about work seekers being trained in craft when they arrive with no skills, except train them in the specific skills needed for that craft. But I feel that it is essential to lobby for the return of craft in the school curriculum, thus supporting the government’s identification of craft as a major job creator. As a side issue, employers will be able to recruit employees with eye-hand coordination skills, skills which are very necessary in many other fields besides craft – dentistry, the electronics industry, artisans, carpentry, plumbing, engineering, the merchant navy, medical and para-medical professions.

INABILITY OF WORKSEEKERS TO VISUALISE BEYOND 2-D

We also sculpt with the felt, making brooches and larger animals (about two-handfuls in size) out of the wool. I have watched some of our artisans’ progress from a complete inability to understand anything in 3-D, to being able to take on new designs – now even with nothing more than a 2-D sketch! To put it simply, they had no 3-D conceptualisation skills when they started working with us. Their schooling had not developed that ability.

I t

might be worthwhile to look at a program to develop 3-D visualisation skills. Here we would be addressing a need at the job creation level of the craft business.

INADEQUATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS IN WORK SEEKERS

We take on mainly Xhosa work seekers and some people from other African countries. Our language of instruction is English. It takes time for our trainees to understand basic instructions in English, and for trainees to understand the names of the different kinds of wool we use, and the names of the different colours.

The issues that I am speaking about here are probably macro issues. Some of them are forward-planning government issues that organisations such as the CCDI could lobby about, but they are issues that have the potential to bring about change in household income level. In South Africa household income often means income for families in neighbouring countries, and in so doing, the whole of Africa.

Sue is a BA Hons graduate. She has trained at high school level, in the business environment, and lectured at Technikon and University level. Before setting up Nuno, she ran a small deli-mustard factory for 10 years, and experienced some similar employee problems there. She is 55 years old, married, with an 8-year old in a SA government school. Sue says “My comments are anecdotal and the result of observation only in my environment. They may not be representative of the South African situation, but may throw light on some areas and show areas for research, or areas of potential concern.”

Sue Kingma of Nuno argues that if government is serious about craft as a major job creator, craft should be included in the school curriculum to develop

hand-eye coordination and spatial perception skills.

12

2009 Africa SMME Awards competitionDo you own or manage an established small, medium or micro enterprise (SMME)?

Is the business older than two years, is the business idea original and do you contribute positively to the image of business in Africa? If so, you may be in line to be honoured as the top SMME in Africa.

For more information, and to acquire an entry form, contact Dina Potgieter, Executive Manager: Africagrowth Institute, tel. 021-914-6779, or visit the website www.africagrowth.com.

Creative Sparks

Creativity, Innovation & Design

In 2009 the 4th floor will run a whole series of Creativity Workshops. The workshops are designed to improve your confidence in your own ability to improve your existing products and also to venture into the exciting realm of product development. We are also running FabLab workshops where you will be introduced to the processes of manufacturing with the aid of computers and machinery. This will enable you to return on the open days where you can continue working on your products and projects.

Our COMBO workshops combine both aspects of the 4th floor’s activities and provide stimulating and challenging workshop opportunities.

There has been a great response so far and if you are interested in participating please contact Karen, the Workshop Facilitator, on 021-460-8379 stewartk@cput.ac.za or Pieter, the FabLab Facilitator, on 021-460-3813 celliersp@cput.ac.za to reserve a place on any of the forthcoming workshops.

Creative and FabLab Workshops 2009

Please note that this programme may change. Call to check on times of workshops closer to the time: Karen 021-460-8379, Pieter 021-460-3813.

5 Feb FabLab 1-Day 18-20 Feb Creativity 3-Day 19 Feb FabLab 1-Day 26 Feb FabLab 1-Day

February 12 March FabLab 1-Day 12 March Creativity 1-Day 19 March FabLab 1-Day 26-27 March Creativity/ FabLab combo

March April 2 April FabLab 1-Day 6-7 April Creativity/FabLab 2-Day combo 16 April Creativity/FabLab

23 April FabLab 1-Day 30 April FabLab 1-Day

1-Day combo

May 7 May FabLab 1-Day 14 May Creativity 2-Day 14 May FabLab 1-Day 21 May FabLab 1-Day

September 2 September Creativity/FabLab combo 3-Day 10 September FabLab 1-Day 17 September FabLab 1-Day

October1 October Creativity 1-Day 6-8 October Creativity 3-Day 8 October FabLab 1-Day 15 October Creativity 1-Day combo 22 October FabLab 1-Day 22-23 October Creativity 2-Day 29 October FabLab 1-Day

November 12 November FabLab 1-Day 19-20 November Creativity 2-Day 19 November FabLab 1-Day 26 November Creativity 3-Day 26 November FabLab 1-Day

December 2-3 December Creativity 2-Day 3 December FabLab 1-Day 9 December Creativity 1-Day

June 4 June FabLab 1-Day 9-11 June Creativity 3-Day 11 June FabLab 1-Day 18-20 June Creativity 3-Day 18 June FabLab 1-Day 25 June FabLab 1-Day

July 9 July FabLab 1-Day 16-17 July Creativity 2-Day 23-24 July Creativity 2-Day 23 July FabLab 1-Day 30 July FabLab 1-Day

August 6 August FabLab 1-Day 13 August FabLab 1-Day 20 August Creativity 1-Day 20 August FabLab 1-Day

13

CCDI Gift Corporate Warehouse

Yongo’s Pottery hand-makes 725 pots in one month

When we set up the CCDI’s GIFT Warehouse in 2007 to ensure that handcraft producers could benefit

directly from the ever-expanding corporate gift market, we were certainly pushing boundaries and exploring the unknown.

Martin Mayongo of Yongo’s Pottery used to make his clay pots with beaded pieces at the Khayelitsha Arts Centre, and at night baked them in the home kiln. Martin employs 3 people permanently, but has skilled people on standby for large consignments – an arrangement which stood him in good stead when, on 4 November last year, he received an order of almost 800 pots. Martin had one month to deliver the goods. In order to meet the time-line, he pulled in 7 assistants and worked night-and-day.

But how did it all begin? GIFT sales executive, Girl Yeki, connected with the communications director of the Bosasa Group of Companies, Papa Leshabane. Papa liked Martin’s calabash as a corporate gift idea, but wanted it custom-made with their company logo.

Papa and GIFT-staff continued to explore branding options, and together with the FabLab, they cut perspex templates of the Bosasa-logo which Martin had to press into the clay of the calabash and then painted it with the company colors.

The client was very happy with the samples and confirmed an order of 225 customized calabashes and 500 customized pots. Martin

was determined to meet the challenge, and had a strong helping hand in his associate, Nosisa, who he describes as the anchor of the team.

However, during the 4 weeks at his disposal, Martin faced some major challenges. The whole project suffered a major setback when one of his team members, Nosisa’s son, died in a shack fire. Spirits were low. Tiredness set in. Martin himself fell sick. Exhaustion slowed them down and delayed the process. Then there were the normal losses in the form of breakages.

But Martin pulled through and the pots were transported to GIFT. Back at GIFT, each calabash and pot needed to be boxed and gift-packaged. The GIFT-staff took over the training room and stacked boxes to the roof. The casual team assisted with folding boxes and bubble-wrapping the ceramics to pack inside the boxes for freight to Johannesburg by 5 December! Finally, with many CCDI staff lending a helping hand, the order was successfully delivered.

GIFT manager, Rose Reddy, says, “The project was certainly a learning curve for everyone involved. Once again, it highlights the challenges that face the makers of beautiful handmade products. No money can replace the time and sacrifices made, and GIFT feels honoured to have facilitated this opportunity for the people of Khayelitsha.”

ABOUT GIFT

GIFT adds a socially responsible solution to corporate gifting needs. All our suppliers are micro and emerging enterprises, providing jobs and sustained income to many economically marginalized people. And as all our suppliers have BEE ratings of level 4 and above – buying from GIFT provides companies with procurement recognition of 100%.

It’s a win-win solution for the maker and the market.

GIFT helps corporate South Africa make a meaningful contribution to grassroots broad-based black economic empowerment through genuine economic activity that makes a contribution to sustainable livelihoods. And GIFT helps handcraft producers access and service a market that they would struggle to access and service on their own.

When Martin Mayongo received an order of 725 clay pots to be used as a corporate gift, he had to pull out all the stops.

1-Day combo

14

2010 Update less than 500 days to go

FIFA 2010 World Cup

To ensure that all CCDI stakeholders, especially the craft producers, are kept in the loop on this year’s plan, we have planned various sessions for your benefit.

Information sessions at the craft •sector meetings

2010 “Place, Heritage, Culture, •Legacy, and Event” workshops

Call for products, briefings sessions, •product selection and feedback sessions

Newsletter contributions•

2009 Events

Throughout the year, a number of events will be targeted, for which we will put out a call for product, hold briefing sessions, and select products for showcasing. These events, trade shows or exhibitions are:

Décor items (on-going): briefing – 22 •Jan, samples due date 13 Feb

2010 Related Corporate Gifting (on-•going): briefing 22 Jan, samples due date 13 Feb

2009 Cape Town Jazz Festival (3 & •4 Apr): briefing 22 Jan, samples due date 13 Feb

2009 Tourism Indaba (9 - 12 May): •tba, samples due date tba

2009 Cape Town Book Fair (13-16 •Jun): tba, samples due date tba

2009 Soccerex (29 Nov-2 Dec): tba, •samples due date tba

2010 Design Indaba (Feb 2010): •tba, samples due date tba

Call for product - watch our newsletter for these announcements.

Product briefings - The 2010 CCDI’s GIFT Warehouse team will hold briefing sessions to explain the product requirements. Questions and answers will help us to assist you, and to understand your challenges.

Dates for product in-takes, are as follows:

1st product intake: 10 Feb 2009•

2nd product intake: 10 Mar 2009•

3rd product intake: 10 April 2009•

Further dates will be provided as the need arises after the workshops hosted by the 4th floor.

Product selection - a selection panel will view the submitted products to choose the most appropriate items for the specific event – full feedback will be provided to all craft producers.

Regular updates

In an effort to get relevant 2010 related information, the Project officer will be attending monthly technical update meetings hosted by the Premier’s 2010 Co-ordination Office, update meetings with the provincial 2010 Unit Director of the Department Cultural Affairs & Sport, and update meetings with the City of Cape Town 2010 Project as well as the Central City Forum. To ensure that you miss nothing, some of the responsible officers will be invited to present at the craft sector meetings. Watch the newsletter for notices.

2010 ‘Place, Heritage, Culture, Legacy, and Event’ CCDI workshops

The CCDI will be hosting 3 inspiration workshops on the aspects that the 2010 FIFA World Cup ™ will emphasise: Place, Heritage & Culture, Legacy, and Event. Space is limited to 12 participants per session, so send your applications well in time. There will be is a R100 registration fee for the 5-day workshops. Workshop dates: 16-20 March | 20-24 April | 25 – 29 May | 08h30 – 16h00 daily. Interested parties please contact Karen Stewart on: 021-460-8379 / stewartk@cput.ac.za.

For any enquiries relating to 2010, please feel free to contact me, Thandeka Tyatyantsi, your 2010 Project Officer, on | 021-460-8380 tyatyantsit@cput.ac.za.

‘Yours in Soccer!’

Sunday, 25 January, marked 500 days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony and kick-off match, which will take place on 14 June 2010, Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

The growing interest in crafter opportunities for 2010 was demonstrated at the first 2010 briefing session, when crafters filled our meeting room in Harrington Street.

15

This city

PICTURES OF YOU is offering CCDI-members a special price of R50 per ticket.

Contact Tarryn Saunders, 021-680-3993 between 9:00 and 14:00, or email tarryn.saunders@uct.ac.za quoting the code ‘CCDI’. Offer is valid starting Thursday, 5 February, and then for any Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. Pictures of You will be presented at the Baxter Sanlam Studio, from 2-21 February 2009. Bookings through the Baxter Box Office or Computicket on 083-915-8000.

According to the latest dipstick research conducted by Cape Town Tourism in the first week of January 2009, accommodation figures across Cape Town reflect a leveling

out of visitors over the peak season.

The decreased petrol price as well as a weak rand in comparison to overseas currency led to many South Africans enjoying a national holiday instead of going abroad. Feedback from the industry and major attractions indicate that domestic arrivals are on par with that of last year.

Some of the key trends indicate:

A healthy return rate from traditional foreign markets •

Numbers have mainly remained consistent with last year, •with slight increases reported, especially in the Central City and Atlantic Seaboard areas

Major attractions like Kirstenbosch and the V&A Waterfront •report significant increases in visitor numbers

Most establishments interviewed report good occupancy •levels for the next two months

Wedding and function venues interviewed report a positive •increase in bookings for the new year

A number of establishments reported better forward •bookings for the next few months than last year

Most establishments indicated a slower than usual start to •the peak season

Many establishments reported a high number of last •minute and walk-in reservations

Shorter stays and a more conservative spend than last •year were reported.

On a more sober note, Martin Hatchuel, the BarefootWriter, writes in his ‘This Tourism Week’ column:

“Like you, I’ve been watching the unfolding crisis in the world’s economy with a certain horror. I’ve always been fascinated by the collapse of ‘29 and I’ve always naively felt that we’d learned from our mistakes and that it could never happen again. Well, looks like it can...

“And this is very worrying, of course. But there’re a few fundamental differences between 1929 and 2008. It’s this: the tourism industry is all about transport and the transport industry is not only unsustainable - it’s killing us.

“Fossil Fuels, guys - that’s what’s going to kill tourism. Because they’re running out, because they’re polluting our air/water/earth and because we aren’t doing enough to replace them with really green technologies.”

Any comments on this?

Performed at the Baxter, PICTURES OF YOU is a quirky visual story, created by a multi-award winning team of collaborators. At first sight, Frank and Janet’s marriage is the picture of perfection – neat, ordered, and respectable. But underneath lies a deeper truth – one of buried secrets and repressed desires that begin leaking out when Frank starts to dream.

Cape Town Tourism:Numbers remain stable, despite tough times

Pictures of you offer for CCDI-members

16

Billboard

The Oscars of the Creative Industry, the 2009 Loerie Awards, will take place in Cape Town from 25 to 27 September 2009.

The Loeries now attract many international attendees, as well as local marketing executives, creative leaders, media and celebrities. Entries are judged by over 130 judges, made up of respected local industry leaders and chaired by international specialists.

The site earmarked for the awards ceremony is the Good Hope Centre in the East City Precinct, a site of great historic importance. The precinct has also become a home to the creative industry in Cape Town, with many advertising, design and marketing companies already making their home there.

Researcher needed for craft retail shops & raw materials providers

The CCDI is looking for a free-lance ‘ambassador’ to do on-the-foot research for the organisation during February and early March 2009. This would involve visiting Craft Retail shops in the Metropolis, as well as providers of Raw Materials to the craft sector. This person would in many cases be introducing the CCDI to these shops and providers for the first time, and should therefore be presentable, pleasant and able to converse easily. Questionnaires would need to be completed and certain negotiations done. A knowledge of craft is required.

Please contact Lynne on 021-460-3822 to apply.

Your photographs needed - to promote your sector

The CCDI is inviting WC designer-makers/craft producers to submit photographs of their latest products to update our website. We also use excellent photographs of interesting craft to promote both you as a designer-maker, and the WC craft sector, in our printing material, media articles and advertising.

Please note: We require high-resolution pics, not smaller than 500KB in size; they can be up to 2MB large, but if you are emailing us, these will need to be sent one at a time.

If you can at all afford it, get a professional photographer to take the pictures – remember ‘an image gets its own legs’.

Tip: If you have to do the photography yourself, see that the background is completely clear of any clutter; if possible it should be a uniform colour, like white (use a sheet), or black (use sheets of black paper as a backdrop), whichever will show your product up to the best advantage.

Email your photographs to Marjorie on naidooML@cput.ac.za

Urban Africa agent needed

Urban Africa makes handcrafted leatherwear and is looking for an agent for the WC area. Contact Vincent Urbain, tel. 021- 462-0232, cell. 072-667-0878, email info@urbanafrica.co.za. Visit the website www.urbanafrica.co.za.

African Allsorts need artists

African Allsorts Bead and Wire Art Studio in Salt River, has a great opportunity for two talented artists to join their dynamic team. The applicant should have a strong creative flair and be proficient in design, framing and plastering. The applicant will be encouraged to explore working with different materials and to be innovative in both design and technical skills. Contact Jason or Leila, tel. 021-447-6976 or email info@africanallsorts.com for an interview.

Beads for sale

38.645kg Indian glass beads in assorted colours for sale - 8 mm and smaller (mostly 8mm). R200 / kg or R24.00 per string. Contact Jeanette 079-186-1785.

Louries makes it’s new nest in Cape Town