Nurturing fresh, creative talent
Six people graduated from the Waterfront’s Artist Alliance mentorship programme in a ceremony held at the Zeitz MOCAA on Thursday April 25.
The programme, launched by the V&A Waterfront in 2021, aims to develop fresh, young creative talent with support from mentors in the creative industry and at the Waterfront.
The latest cohort was part of a two-month programme of, among other things, graphic design, illustration, videography, and music production.
Eighteen people have graduated since the start of the programme.
Among the cohort were music producer Sipho Ngqayimbana, from Khayelitsha, and self-taught artist Carmen Jacobs, from Retreat.
They said the programme transformed their approach to their craft, providing them with the tools to establish businesses.
Anelissa Nkanyuza, an animator and illustrator from Observatory, said she benefited from mentorship and peer-to-peer training, and Larissa Mwanyama, an entrepreneur with a passion for curatorship, creative arts, and leadership, from the Foreshore, said the programme helped her transform obstacles into opportunities by forging her own path as a business owner.
Some students who have graduated from the programme have had opportunities to work on projects with and for the Waterfront - an example is Nqaba Shakes Mbolekwana, a member of the inaugural cohort who has his photography essay, The Hangover, up at the Traffic Plaza.
“Artist Alliance serves to showcase the existing creativity of young talent offering space for them to expand their knowledge, better navigate the business landscape and inspire others who seek to build their creative careers. What gives us even more joy is seeing their legacy visible in our neighbourhood,” said Tinyiko Mamgaza, marketing executive at the V&A Waterfront.
