To kick off its 2016 exhibition programme, the African Art Centre recently released a call inviting local KZN
artists to be part of a Human Rights exhibition themed 20 Years Later: A Fresh Look at the Bill of Rights.
This group exhibition, curated by Carol Brown, will be opened by the Hon. Justice Albie Sachs.
Twenty years ago South Africa was full of hope looking towards a new future. The Bill of Rights, which was
the cornerstone of the Constitution of SA, was widely celebrated as being one of the most progressive in
the world. Justice Albie Sachs (one of the architects of the Constitution) launched the Images of Human
Rights Print Portfolio at the Durban Gallery in 1996. A proud moment. Where are we now? Much has
improved while much remains a work in progress.
This exhibition aims to celebrate the achievements of our recent history and explore some of the
complexity and contradictions that make South Africa such an exciting and challenging country in which to
live. A group of artists, who attended a workshop on the Bill of Rights, will be showing new works
highlighting how artists envision the present which is built on the past.
Justice Albie Sachs will launch this exhibition of prints, drawings, paintings and photographs, all created
especially for the exhibition by well known artists as well as unknown young talent. The exhibition opens
on Thursday 10 March at 17:30 at the African Art Centre, 94 Florida Rd, Durban, and will run for 3 weeks.
For more details contact the African Art Centre on 031 312 3804/5 or email africanartcentre@afri-art.co.za
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About the African Art Centre:
The African Art Centre is a fine art and crafts centre with a gallery and a retail outlet. Our core work
focusses on artist development, showcase and growing the creative economy.
The African Art Centre was initiated in 1959 by the Natal Region of the South African Institute for Race
Relations.
Role of the African Art Centre during the Apartheid Era:
• Medium of communication in a divided society
• Worked towards bringing people with common interests together
• Public showcase of African artists and crafters
In 1984, the African Art Centre was registered as a non profit section 21 company
AAC Recognizes and addresses:
• The problems of unemployment
• The socio-economic consequences of South Africa’s history
• The need for all people to have the opportunity to work and earn a living
• The intrinsic value of human dignity achieved through being able to work
• The need to kindle and stimulate self-motivation through acquired skills
• The need for personal gain and development to be linked as directly possible to personal effort -
self-sustaining and economically
Vision
Creating an enabling environment for the sustainable development, promotion and preservation of African
arts and crafts with special focus on KwaZulu-Natal.
Mission
• To provide a platform for training and development
• To provide an outlet for promoting and selling works done by KZN artists and crafters
• To create jobs and a sustainable income for KZN artists and crafters
• To provide a professional space for young and established artists and crafters to exhibit
• To discover, encourage and nurture works of creativity, originality and the highest quality
• To communicate and document traditional and contemporary trends in local arts and crafts
• To preserve our cultural heritage
