News

We are proud to announce that we have received the Provincial Museum of the Year Award for outstanding work in the visual arts. With the help of visual artists like Peggy Delport and Tina Smith the Museum was acknowledged as having contributed to the visual arts field with its innovative and unique exhibitionary techniques, methodology and design.

Associate Professor Peggy Delport is a professional artist and is also a founder trustee of the District Six Museum. Peggy Delport is currently completing mural using the fresco technique inside the Museum that will be unveiled in March 2006. Tina Smith is a professional artist and cultural heritage practitioner and has been involved with the Museum since its inception and continues to work with the Museum particularly in the area of cultural products.

The District Six Museum is an internationally recognized and acclaimed institution whose groundbreaking work around memory and oral history has surfaced the stories of ex residents of District Six and others affected by forced removals. It needs to be understood that the visual art that comprises the Museum exhibition is the tangible result of a part of a larger process that works with the memories of ex residents. The Museum has shared its work through its networks and membership with international organisations like the International Coalition of Historic Site Museums of Conscience and also the African-Swedish Museums Programme.

We would also like to congratulate Peter Clarke on receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award for his local and international work as an illustrator and poet. Peter Clarke’s poems and illustrations form an integral part of the Museum exhibition and his poems are embedded in the Memorial Hall floor and are also on the map that covers the main hall floor.

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate AMAC on their award. AMAC is a longstanding partner of the District Six Museum. We would further like to acknowledge the awards given to the Red Dazzlers, with whom we had a partnership through an indigenous music project, and Marlene le Roux on her award for her achievements in arts and culture.

The Department of Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation at a glittering affair on 23 November in Kirstenbosch Gardens awarded seventeen individuals and organisations with awards. The awards were made to Western Cape Arts and Cultural practitioners that have made outstanding contributions towards the development of the cultural landscape in the province.

The Cultural Awards are hosted by the Department on an annual basis seek to acknowledge and reward excellence in the field of arts, culture, language and heritage. The awards are conducted in an open and transparent manner whereby members of the public are invited to nominate individuals or groups in various categories as publicized in the mainstream media. There are various categories in arts and culture, museums, language and heritage.

In the past these awards have seen known local artists such as Abdullah Ibrahim, David Kramer, the late Brenda Fassie being honoured for the role they have played in the performing arts.

For more information please call Maheerah Gamieldien at the District Six Museum on 021 466 7200 or visit our website on http://www.districtsix.co.za/