Local artists use their best shot to debunk vaccination myths, promote personal accountability and foster family protection.
Cape Town - Baz-Art, with corporates such as Accelerate Cape Town and Santam, have collaborated on a new campaign that aims to use street art to drive awareness around the importance of Covid-19 vaccinations.
Baz-Art transforms spaces through commissioned urban art.
The organisers of the campaign, ‘Your Best Shot’, intended to use art to spread a positive message about the benefits of a Covid-19 vaccination.
They wanted to educate the public and debunk the myths and fears that are driving vaccine hesitancy, especially with the next wave of infections expected to hit within the coming months.
The campaign sees murals by five local artists displayed across Cape Town suburbs, including Athlone, Bonteheuwel, Delft, Langa and Mitchell’s Plain to help encourage and drive greater vaccination rates.
It has kicked off in collaboration with the International Public Arts Festival (IPAF).
Baz-Art project manager Lauren Fletcher said the five artists being showcased in this campaign are Bushy Wopp, Mernette Swarts, Silas Ras Moetse, Wayne BKS (aka Conform) and Dekor One. Each piece of art was specifically created to reinforce the positive aspects of getting a Covid-19 vaccine.
“Key messages include accountability for personal and individual health, comfort when connecting one-on-one with partners and friends, protecting one’s family, serving one’s community, and ensuring freedom of movement and safety for all across our beautiful country and continent,” Fletcher said.
Accelerate Cape Town chief executive officer Ryan Ravens said increasing vaccination rates was undeniably the surest way to move beyond the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The last two years have tested us all in ways we could never have predicted. What is needed is for us to stand together, united in our common humanity – taking the steps necessary to move forward from this global pandemic. This forms part of our commitment to contributing towards the fight against Covid-19,” Santam market development head Neptal Khoza said.
Ravens said Covid-19 vaccinations were, right now, one of the greatest investments a person could make for individual well-being, loved ones, broader communities and the economy.