On the afternoon of December 12th,
an audience, mostly parents & families plus a few of the early
holiday visitors, gathered outside the new music building in Hamburg
to watch a performance of 'Indalo'. This outdoor production, which
grew out of the 'Carnival of the Animals' (performed in 2013 at
Grahamstown Festival), featured the Music Academy and a new cast of
local young actors.
Despite a gale force wind, actors and
musicians managed to tell their story to a crowd who were wowed by
the music, the magic and the humour. It was a delightful finale to
Keiskamma Trust's activities throughout 2014. The production was
followed the next day with the Intlantsi Creative Development team
organising and hosting the annual Christmas party for all the local
children. Over 350 Hamburg children received gifts from Father
Christmas, and were entertained by the Intlantsi facilitators, who
'clowned' and face-painted for hours!
The Trust offices are now closed for
the end-of-year break but the Art shop continues to be open every day
as visitors come to do their Christmas shopping. An adjacent building
is also serving as a gallery, where the Altarpiece, back 'home' from
its global journeying, is being exhibited, as well as several pieces
from the 'Botanicals' range.
Our gallery and shop in Hamburg
Our shop in Cape Town ( @ The Watershed - Ground Floor - Market Stall F107)
And so another busy year here draws to
a close. As ever, the challenges will continue in 2015. For a small
NGO in a remote rural location, keeping funding flowing and helping
to nurture a healthy, sustainable community is never plain sailing.
But if you dip back in to these 2014 blog posts, you'll get a sense
of this special place and what is being achieved and celebrated in
this little corner of Eastern Cape.
None of this could happen without all
our donors and friends! So we take this opportunity the thank you ALL
for another year of continued support. All of us here at Keiskamma
Trust – staff, volunteers and students – wish you a peaceful and
enjoyable holiday season and warm wishes for everything you hope for
in 2015.
