Philippi stakeholders provide input for public art
28 April 2021
The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mangement Directorate through the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP), recently held a co-design workshop in Philippi. The co-design workshop is aimed at directing the design of the Philippi East Multi-Purpose Centre, particularly to guide the future implementation of public art by local artists and draw on local knowledge and skills to assist the design of the facility as a whole.
The co-design workshop offered community members and organisations the opportunity to provide inputs for the public art at the Philippi East Multi Purpose Centre (PEMPC).
The workshop was attended by members of different organisations and groups including: the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), the Kosovo Ward Development Fund (WDF), the Kosovo Youth Desk, the Sports Council, the Youth Council, the Masonwabe Early Childhood Development Forum, the Women Seniors Club, Iyazi Nkosi and Ikamva Labantu.
The workshop started with a walkabout at the centre, where participants engaged with the space to better understand its purpose and use. The workshop continued at the Lansdowne Community Hall where the following activities took place:
Presentation of the project;
Envisioning the public art at the facility; and
Creating a brief for the artists.
Throughout the day, participants shared their perspectives about the culture and heritage of Philippi and the different activities and art that they envision for the space. The creative activities helped them to represent those elements in collective visual boards that provide significant inputs that will inform the public art in the facility.
‘Public art has become an important focus and brings cultural, social and economic value to our neighbourhoods. It reflects our society and can enrich communities. As a creative City, we are committed to enabling all forms of public art as well as nurture and promote local artists.
'With this innovative and community-centric project, the City hopes to demonstrate how art can contribute towards transformation in vulnerable communities; establish a positive and stronger neighbourhood identity and make art more accessible to everyone and thereby improve our public facilities and spaces,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
