M&G reporter
Relatively obscure craft-makers from rural areas and informal settlements have been chosen to exhibit in Washington, DC in June for the Smithsonian Institution’s folklife festival, which this year includes a focus on South Africa.
About 100 participants, some barely known outside their own regions, will demonstrate a range of craft-making, from embroidering to drum-making, with presenters-cum- translators on hand to explain the process. In addition, regular shows will be staged by performers including, inter alia, a marimba group from the Cape, cultural dance groups from the Northern Province and the Northern Cape and a fusion dance group from KwaZulu-Natal.
The decision to ignore established artists in favour of emerging ones has been controversial. However “this is a folklife festival, and the real `folklife’ happens in the rural areas,” says Doreen Nteta, National Arts Council CEO. At the NAC, “we are very cognisant of our role and duty to reach out to the whole of South Africa. This seems to us to be an ideal opportunity for those people who are not exposed to the outside world to show what they can do, particularly because most exhibitions tend to favour people from major metropolitan areas.”
The exhibition was put together by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology for the NAC. Other government departments are also involved: the departments of Trade and Industry, Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Sport and Recreation.
The South African exhibition will concentrate on the “cultural significance of crafts and the economic gain it can foster”, particularly in areas where there is very little work.
It will run from June 23 to 27 and June 30 to July 4.