The Visual Arts Foundation, led by co-founder Jay-Dee and Victor Geduldt, has been making waves in community development.
The non-profit organisation, initially based in Bloemfontein, relocated to Brandfort as they recognised the pressing need for upliftment in this community.
According to Geduldt, the organisation’s mission is to address the unemployment challenges prevalent in South Africa by focusing on rural areas, aiming to provide training and support to individuals within these communities.
The foundation’s training programmes encompass a range of transferable skills, including visual art and public art.
“For example, the murals painted in Brandfort attract tourists to the town and also boost revenue for entrepreneurs. We’ve also provided training in hydroponics to motivate backyard farming and sustainability, seeing that not all households within these rural communities can keep up with the cost of living,” she said.
She further said the Visual Arts Foundation actively supports various forms of public art, emphasising large-scale murals and paintings and that the foundation’s endorsement of public art goes hand in hand with its dedication to fostering artistic expression that has a tangible impact on communities.
“The foundation relies on contributions in the form of donations, such as art materials, for example paint supplies.
The foundation also receives grants from various funding bodies to help support the unemployed youth,” said Geduldt.
Individuals interested in getting involved can contact the foundation and become part of its programmes and projects, reaching out through their Instagram page.
As of now, Visual Arts Foundation has temporarily concluded its projects to focus on the Grahamstown Arts Festival, also known as Makhanda.
Updates on planned exhibitions and projects will be regularly posted on the foundation’s Instagram page, providing a glimpse into the ongoing impact of their work.
Individuals interested in getting involved can contact the foundation and become part of its programmes and projects by reaching out through their Instagram page @visual_arts_foundation.
Justine Fortuin