Johannesburg - THE Funda Community College in Soweto has been facing dire financial hardships even before the pandemic.
Art consultant, Tumelo Moloi, is adding his hand to help his fellow artists through a charity art auction that will take place next month.
“The auction is to help raise funds for the college which has produced award winning fine artists. I have been going to Funda to work with other artists and realised that they have been going through some problems. There’s been so much written about Funda but there hasn’t been much financial support for the space.”
Moloi said there were learners who deserved good quality education. The college used to receive private donations and limited government funding
“I came up with this charity auction ‘I Am Funda’ to help. This situation is not as a result of covid-19. Initially as I got closer to the Funda family, I found that there was no money coming into the college, Funda has been driven from passion for the arts. I am trying to correct some good governance practices within the space.”
The I Am Funda Auction will take place online from April 5 to April 20 featuring artworks from William Kentridge, Robert Hodgins, Dr Esther Mahlangu, Tracey Rose, Ayanda Mabulu, Bambo Sibiya, Kemang Wa Lehurele, Penny Siopis and more.
“It will be facilitated by Aspire Art Auctions. It is going to be open for public viewing so whoever would like to see the art works can go to Aspire to see the work.”
The college in Diepkloof has been home to many South African artists after it was founded in 1984. It was built as a source of arts education post the student uprisings in 1976 to help young people who were not attending school after the uprisings. The centre was initially directed by art educator and activist Steven Sack and the late Dr Es’kia Mphahlele was active with the college building links between Funda and Wits University as well as Unisa.
Moloi said he aims to raise R4 million for the college to help with the learning facilities and the operational running of the centre.
“The lecture halls should be in good standing in terms of allowing the academy concept to be of standard. They contribute so much to the wellbeing of education in the space. Art is not theory or traditional so the practising part of it is a necessity. The staff has not been paid for almost a year, the security guards that are keeping the space safe also need to get paid. The college doesn’t have paper and computers and all those kinds of things. We want to revive the facilities at Funda.”
He said most of the facilities were not in use at the moment except for the spaces that are being used for projects like music, dance and art.
Moloi is working with the college specifically for this fundraising project and will also be assisting in helping to get the space up and running again.
Anyone interested in donating to the college and buying an art piece can email [email protected]
The Star