Geduld, a painter, hopes to roll out art programmes in small towns like Excelsior with the assistance of the National Arts Council of South Africa. On Wednesday, March 13, Geduld and thirteen unemployed youth held an art exhibition at the historic town’s library. The painter hopes his thirteen students will be able to attend Macufe, the Bloem Art Show and other art fairs in the not-too-distant future.

Some of the work displayed at the exhibition was created over long periods of time - in the case of Geduld’s own personal art. Others were created over a period of two months in which the painter taught unemployed youth, in the town located over an hour outside of Bloemfontein, how to paint.

He says usually he uses the profits he makes from art fairs to fund the project, but this time some around, his proposal for the project was greenlit by the National Arts Council of South Africa and they helped with funding. The painter stresses that art is the cornerstone of every community and artists can be a catalyst for real change. “Let’s say there was violence now all around the city and AKA comes here. All the people would go there and support him and the violence would stop. You see what art does sometimes? It has an impact on the community. I just hope all of us can build on that and skill more people” he says.

The project started off with roughly about 25 unemployed youth. About twelve of them quit the programme for construction work in the town. He says he understands why that happened, because there was financial remuneration gained from the programme. However, thirteen stayed the course and completed the process. One of them is Michael Mphatseng who says he already knew how to paint, but the project helped him refine his skill. He says he also wants to use art to help impoverished kids from his area. He wants them to go to art exhibitions and see what else life has to offer.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela and Olebogeng Motse