DESPITE widespread media appeals for funding to send 15 township crafters at R1 000 per head to this year's Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown this year, no-one has yet responded.
However, due to concerted efforts by members of the Ncedanani Pottery Project and the Mzamhomhle Fabric Painting Project - both sponsored by the City of Cape Town via the Guguletu Artists Foundation - they have managed to raise R10 000 from pottery and fabric sales.
So reports project co-ordinator, Abel Mtebele of Cape Town Tourism, who told Travel Now that they are still R5 000 short and must have raised the money by the end of this week as the festival officially opens on June 30.
"We really want to encourage the crafters and expose them to the various opportunities that exist within this type of industry."
He says the members will gladly feature the sponsors' logo on all promotional work and will ensure - as far as possible - that they receive media coverage of their "generosity and commitment to community upliftment".
Call Mtebele at (021) 426-4260 or 083-539-8681.
(Adéle Mackenzie)
