Dakawa Arts and Crafts Community Centre

MUST BE EDITED

Dakawa Arts and Craft Community Centre was once a flourishing project. Formed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Swedish Government during the apartheid era and located deep within the struggle movement, today it is struggling for funds.

The centre started as an ANC textile printing workshop in Tanzania at a place called Dakawa in 1986.

The Swedish government funded the project through an organisation called the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA).

The centre trained and supported artists such as renowned Eastern Cape artist Vusi Khumalo, who obtained a scholarship to further his studies in Sweden while the project was based in Tanzania.

The main objective of the project was to train ANC exiles and members in practical skills for survival in various aspects of arts and craft.

When the project moved back to South Africa, cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg bid to have the project, however Grahamstown was seen as the most suitable place because of the high unemployment in the region, its central location and the annual National Arts Festival, which led to opening of the centre in Grahamstown in 1992.

Due to insufficient fundraising systems and abandonment by local and international support structures, the Dakawa Centre was closed in 2001. Despite the official closure and huge funding constraints, the centre continues to keep its doors open to support and assist developing artists.

The centre holds pottery classes for ex-offenders, ranging in age from 16 to 20 who have committed petty crimes.

This project is run in collaboration with the Department for Social Development. Sinawo Jantjie, from probation services who oversees the pottery classes, says: “They are not re-offending because they are always busy.

“This shows them that there are alternatives to crime. Some didn’t even know they had the talent of using their hands.”

Jantjie says they are planning to run an exhibition of their work at the National Arts Festival this year and the potters will receive all the profits from their work if sold.

The purpose of the centre is to provide skills in trading and capacitybuilding to enrich artists.

The centre is rich in resources and equipment. It has etching facilities, printing presses and a textile, ceramic and beading studio.

It also has a bakery. The centre’s sewing project has enabled some locals to open small businesses. In addition, Dakawa holds ballroom and Latin dance classes for children and others who are interested.

The group is registered as the Dakawa Dance Club and will take part in a dance competition in East London on 10 April. Dylan McGarry, a volunteer at Dakawa, needed a studio as he was starting a project to develop youth in all aspects of art.

He then met with Loyiso Mgoduka, the Dakawa Centre manager and arranged a deal; in exchange for a studio space, McGarry would do fundraising for the project. McGarry says: “We just want people to know that Dakawa isn’t dead. There are incredible people like Loyiso who are trying to keep it open.

“It’s an important heritage site which is located deep within the truggle movement; its history is so vital.”

He says that the centre only receives R70 000 a year and that the main priority is to raise funds for permanent maintenance staff, a full-time housekeeper, security personnel and someone who can provide administrative assistance to Mgoduka.

McGarry estimates that the centre will have to raise at least R550 000 a year to do this.

Mgoduka works for the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture which is currently funding Dakawa.

Mgoduka says that the aim of the centre is to “skill people, especially the youth, to empower people and to create jobs”. Mgoduka says, “We need a financial injection so that the centre can be what it was meant to be.”