CAPE TOWN - Thirteen artists taking part in the 2022 Noordhoek Open Studios have worked on a collaborative piece that will be auctioned to raise funds for MasiSports.
The annual 2022 Noordhoek Open Studios, on from April 8-10, where members of the public can visit artists in their home studios to see them creating pieces, have added the new collaborative piece to the offering as a creative way to raise additional funds for MasiSports.
MasiSports was launched in 2017 at Ukhanyo Primary School when the school had only one sports and physical training coach, one netball court and a short sprint track, no school kit or proper equipment and only netball teams played inter-school matches.
Now all 2 000 pupils have a PT lesson once a week. There are 19 coaches for the school’s 19 teams, which play official school matches in school-branded kit. Netball, cricket, rugby, soccer, cycling, basketball, athletics and chess are thriving.
The project also extends to Masiphumelele High School, where two netball courts were constructed and netball, soccer, chess, rugby and cycling were introduced.
“While all of the entry fees are donated to MasiSports, we wanted to do a little something extra this year,” says artist and event organiser Aimee Kruger.
Artists Karin Kruger, Thomas van Glyswyk, Francoise Viglietti, Alison Faraday, Ingrid Altmann, Isabelle Webb, Andrew Hart, Aimee Kruger, Gavin Thomson, Nola Muller, Cherylee Powell, Rebecca Lane and Shaneen Wallace from Oclaysions have collaborated on the piece and were asked to add their specific style to the canvas, making it one of a kind.
Ukhanyo Primary headmaster Michael Tyhali arrived at the school in 2000 and said there was no sports field. Thanks to the passion of Tyhali and his team, and the support of MasiSports and a network of non-governmental players, these days the school grounds are a frenzy of happy activity after school as boys and girls participate in a range of sports.
“Sport and life skills have been a game-changer. MasiSports has enabled the school’s sports dream. The learners who are involved in sport have improved their marks, time-keeping and discipline are enhanced and litter at the school has disappeared,” said Tyhali.
“Others now see us as a school of choice, with excellence at the centre. The list of social ills in this area goes on and on, but parents tell me that children don’t want to miss sports.”
Last year saw MasiSport launch the 60x30m Ingrid Wheeler AstroTurf field, to add to the school’s three AstroTurf cricket nets and two artificial fields. This field has allowed Ukhanyo to hold interschool matches.
“I never thought in my time as headmaster we would host inter-schools matches at Ukhanyo. Our teams will be cheered on by parents, learners, staff and the community. It’s a dream come true,” Tyhali said.
To bid on the piece, visit Noordhoek Art Point Studios behind the “smartie” wall on Noordhoek Main Road, over the Noordhoek Open Studios weekend.
For more information, see @NoordhoekOpenStudios on Facebook and Instagram.
Cape Times