Imbali Visual Literacy Project

Proposal:

Imbali has been involved with the Keisikamma Art Project in a creative skills exchange. The exchange was about collaboration and engaging with each others and our own environments with new eyes and ears. First, the Imbali 3rd year craft students and their facilitators spent 10 days in Hamburg in the Eastern Cape, then 10 members of the Keiskamma Art Project spent 10 days in the Imbali studio in Newtown, Johannesburg. This interaction resulted in the two groups from diverse backgrounds mixing, getting to know each other and sharing stories of their respective environments and the issues that are of concern to them and also creating original and inspiring textile artworks.

Out of this programme resulted a large group applique and embroidered wall hanging (1.7 x 2.8 meters), inspired by the calm life of Hamburg and the sea and beach, as well as a range of screen-printed textiles inspired by the buildings and street life of Johannesburg.

Imbali is interested in securing a space to exhibit these textile art works. The large applique piece will be raffled, tickets will sell for R50 each and the other textile pieces will range from R150 to R600 (bags, cushion, table cloths and wall hangings). The funds gained from the sale of the raffle tickets will go towards funding future collaborations and exchanges of a similar nature. The funds gained from the sale of the textile pieces will be divided between the Imbali and Keiskamma Art Projects and the individual textile artist who made the piece.

Biography:

Imbali Visual Literacy Project is a non-profit organisation based in Newtown, Johannesburg involved in crafts training and skills development for youth and women. This ultimately leads to job creation opportunities and economic empowerment for these young people. Imbali is also involved in teacher development for arts and culture teachers and a number of other related areas such as museum education, training of trainers, development of educational resource materials for teachers and art programmes for street children. Imbali has been in existence for 27 years and has an excellent track record as a professional training provider. The Organization is registered with the CATHS SETA and also runs accredited training courses.

Web site: http://www.imbali.org.za |