Statement by Free State MEC for of Sport, Arts and Culture S Mnumzana during meeting with Indian counterpart

The Consulate General of India in Durban extended an invitation to us as the Free State Department of Sport, Arts and Culture with five crafters to attend cross-cultural collaborative workshops with the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Calcutta India. These workshops took place from 20 June 2007 in Calcutta, India with the theme, "Revival and Revitalisation of Folk Art and Culture for Sustainable Livelihood".

The main aim of this cultural exchange programme was to have visual artists from both countries share knowledge and expertise on the work and products they develop on a usual base. Moving from that premise, these crafters would then be able to utilise the available material in their countries in order to come up with products that are different and unique yet appealing to the market.

With recommendations from the Consulate General of India, in Durban, the Department worked with Ms Nadia Meer, a designer from Durban who is also the brains behind the "Afrikhadi" concept which brings together work done by crafters from both countries.

The workshops were officially opened by the Director of the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Calcutta, Ms Anuradha Mookerjee. The Governor of West Bengal (equivalent to the Premier of the Province), Gopal Ghandi graced the workshops with his presence on Saturday, 30 June 2007, to see work in progress done by the crafters.

The artists worked on a product range that consisted of bedroom and a living room line. There were also artists working on jewellery products.

The workshop ended with an exhibition that was hosted at the centre on 6 July 2007.The exhibition was a tool to showcase the work done by crafters from both countries over the past three weeks. The products exhibited had flair of South African colours as well as ancient Indian craftwork.

The exhibition was also a pedestal to open to the Indian market what will be in full view at the Durban Fashion Week in South Africa later this year in September.

The government of India together with the Free State Department of Sport, Arts and Culture are currently working on a catalogue which will be used to market the products produced during the workshops.

As the workshops adopted the "train the trainer" method, these crafters are expected to come back and train other crafters within their projects and assist other crafters in other areas of the Free State. They are also expected to continue with the product range. The products will also make part of the exhibition at the Fashion Week.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Free State Provincial Government
19 July 2007