An exhibition of Gerard Sekoto’s work, entitled Song for Sekoto 1913 – 2013, his life and times will be presented at the Wits Art Museum (WAM) in Johannesburg, from 26 April to 2 June 2013, in celebration of the centenary of the artist’s birth. This exhibition has been sponsored by Merrill Lynch, a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation, with support from BHP Billiton, Business and Arts South Africa, Webber Wentzel and the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund. Gerard Sekoto is considered by many to be the ‘Father of South African Art’. As a South African, some of his works have achieved extremely high values in the international art market with pieces carried in private and corporate collections around the world. In his birthplace of South Africa however, he is still relatively ‘unknown’ amongst the general public. In recent years Sekoto’s local profile has been raised by the extensive efforts of author Barbara Lindop – both through the research and publication of her books on the topic, and her work in establishing and running the Gerard Sekoto Foundation. It is under these auspices that this exhibition was initiated, in order to facilitate further discovery of the excellence and depths of Sekoto’s important multi-disciplinary works. Supplemented by a personal history, documents and photographs this showcase will allow Sekoto’s work to be considered for the first time within the tangible context of his life and the extraordinary circumstances in which he lived. “At the conceptual core of this exhibition is the staging of Sekoto’s texts in relation to his paintings and sketches; his thoughts, ideas, ideals and conflicts offering a means of understanding the man behind the images. The complexity of his responses to his socio-political context in his private texts goes far beyond the seeming naivety of his early paintings, for example, shedding a quite particular light on his position in relation to what was happening in the country at the time.” . . .

Skills transfer and capacity building of Eastern Cape artists is at the heart of a new partnership between the National Arts Festival, the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts & Culture Council (ECPACC) and the Port Elizabeth Opera House. The Port Elizabeth Opera House is one of the oldest theatre buildings in South Africa. The partnership will focus on highlighting this historical site to visiting producers and presenters who visit the National Arts Festival with a view towards increasing the profile of the theatre amongst the arts community and also amongst theatre enthusiasts. A series of professional workshops in arts management, marketing and technical production leading up to the Festival will enlist professionals from across the country to work alongside the management of the Port Elizabeth Opera House, to enable the theatre to find its place alongside other leading arts institutions. The ‘Creative Consultants Project’ will identify six innovative directors to offer artistic feedback to the Port Elizabeth Opera House's six productions that will be staged at the Festival. Seven additional Eastern Cape productions will receive added support through a special programme devised jointly between the ECPACC, Port Elizabeth Opera House and the National Arts Festival. Fourteen community-based artists selected from across the Eastern Cape will be supported by the Port Elizabeth Opera House and the ECPACC to participate in the Festival's Remix Laboratory. Established in 2009, the Festival's Remix Laboratory is a highly structured and focused programme that gives community-based artists the opportunity to enjoy a productive Festival and to be exposed to how professional writers, directors, stage management and arts administrators work behind the scenes. This new partnership comes as a result of three months of roundtable meetings between Ismail Mahomed (Artistic Director of the National Arts Festival), Mondle Ngonyama (General Manager of the Port Elizabeth . . .

At a media briefing yesterday morning, the Department of Arts and Culture and the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown – commissioners and curators respectively of the 2013 South African Pavilion – announced the theme and some of the artists that will be representing South Africa at the 55th La Biennale di Venezia. Curator of this exhibition, Brenton Maart, gives context for their choices: “To understand how and why histories continue to impact on the world today, contemporary South African artists are turning to the archive, and the chronicles of history here become the building blocks for creative action. Working with archives in a creative ways allows the artist to create work with the potential to (de)construct ideologies, and thus change the course of our contemporary world. In South Africa, specifically, artists may therefore be seen as activists in the evolution of democracy, and it is this evolution that is explored in Imaginary Fact: Contemporary South African Art and the Archive.” “The voices contained in this exhibition are as rich and varied as those of the citizens of our country. They are bold and they are brave. Some are already celebrated internationally, some are beginning to make their voices heard. All are immensely talented and, as a nation, we are proud of them and of the opportunity to showcase them to the world.” said Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile. The following artists have been contracted so far, to appear as part of the exhibition: Joanne Bloch, Wim Botha, Kay Hassan, David Koloane, Gerhard Marx, Maj a Marx and Philip Miller, Sam Nhlengethwa, Johannes Phokela, Cameron Platter, Andrew Putter, Penny Siopis and Sue Williamson. Some of the work represented will draw from the oeuvre of these artists, while some will be commissioned specifically for this exhibition. “The painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, film, electronic and performance work on exhibition are as representative of the diversity of concerns as of . . .

Jsam, DJ and entertainer announces the release of his debut record, Revenghar single, as well as a new music video for this title track. The music is progressive house music and his work promises to take house music to a deeper level and brings new sound, earthly house music with his awesome beast and instruments of solid quality house music. His passion for new sound and excellent music is witness on Revenghar which has been written and produced by Alexander Avilla. Revenghar is already making the airwaves around Europe, on social media, radio DJ’s and night Club DJ’s can’t get enough of it. This is the song everyone will be soon talking about it and it’s a must listen too. The single will see its release on the 25 March 2013 worldwide. Jsam’s debut album titled Together for the Music is 10 tracks album will be release follow later both on line and on physical Cd in South Africa and Europe. Together for the Music has a high influence of 1990s and current sounds which have been improved.The album is suitable for all occasions and yet full of chemistry. Jsam’s aim is to find the sounds no one has heard before, to push his music as far as it will go and to make a fresh exciting record. Jsamhaule known as - Jsam is a South African born house music DJ and Entrepreneur. He is full of life, dynamic, outspoken and has a great sense of humour. Sammy’s music features vocals from a number of international musicians. Sammy grew up in an environment of music lovers such as his father who ran a Stockvel club (Local drinking place) and was a DJ himself during the 1970s and 1980s. Also inspired by South African band/artist such as Mdu, Boom Shaka, Dj Christos and known American band/artists like Black Eyed Peas, Groove Theory and Sweetback. In 2003 he moved to the United Kingdom where he stayed for several years and obtained British Citizen status. He is currently based both United Kingdom and South Africa. His Together for the Music album which top international music . . .

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT), in partnership with the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) and Nedbank Arts Affinity, is pleased to announce an increase in the value of their Performing Arts Scholarships for local aspirant performers. These scholarships are awarded to ambitious youngsters keen to embark on a career in the performing arts, through an annual country-wide competition. Through this generous injection of funds from the sponsors, an additional scholarship will be awarded from 2013; providing a substantial boost to the Performing Arts Scholarships Programme and increasing the total value of the scholarships awarded by more than R100,000. Maseda Ratshikuni, Head: Cause Marketing at Nedbank says they are delighted to be part of this initiative yet again. “Nedbank has a proud history of supporting the arts, through our Arts Affinity programme which has contributed nearly R15 million in support of more than 700 arts, culture and heritage projects countrywide. We are highly involved in the communities we serve. Our support of the ACT Scholarships Programme demonstrates our commitment to the development, promotion and preservation of the arts in our country.” he says. Since the inception of the programme in 2009, six scholarships to the value of more than R600,000 have been awarded. Steve Norman won the inaugural Scholarship and is currently in his final year of Theatre and Performance studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In 2010 Zola Myeza from KwaZulu-Natal walked away with a Scholarship and is also enrolled at UCT. In 2011 two Scholarships were awarded – Nomagugu Gumede from KwaZulu-Natal enrolled at Howard College; and Tankiso Mamabolo from the Eastern Cape is now in her second year of study at UCT. Chantel Evans and Amanda Kunene each won a R105,000 Scholarship in 2012, and are enrolled at Tswhane University of Technology’s Musical Theatre Department and at Howard College respectively. Three scholarships . . .