Newsletter 3/22

The UCT Irma Stern Museum has had much to celebrate in the last months – including LGBTIQA+ Safe Space art workshops presented on most Saturdays, contemporary artist Athi-Patra Ruga’s ongoing intervention and exhibition in the museum, and workshops and tours for learners from under-resourced schools.

We are incredibly proud that the UCT Irma Stern Museum has hosted 980 school learners between February and end-May this year. 

We cannot make any of this happen without your support – the support of our visitors and the support of our education programme patrons. It is our patrons’ generosity that allows us to reach so many of the youth of our region that ordinarily would never have the opportunity to view and participate in a museum. So, this newsletter is a celebration of and thank you to the guardian angels that are our patrons.

Thank you to:

• The Mauerberger Foundation Fund
• The David Graaff Foundation
• Countess Sylvia Labia
• Gaye Youngleson
• The National Arts Council of South Africa

The ISM education programmes consist of two initiatives: Open Art House for mainstream schools and Art House for All for learners with special educational needs (LSEN). We are excited to invite you to an exhibition opening on 11 June, 10.30 – 12.30 of artworks produced by learners from the LSEN school Glenbridge Special School.

Since February, the eight to eleven-year-olds from Glenbridge have regularly visited the UCT Irma Stern Museum, engaging with Stern’s work and making their own art. The learners have been creating freely in a non-judgemental space, using various art materials. They have been encouraged to mess, experiment, and explore in the Museum’s Education Room and large Secret Garden. 

Learners with barriers to learning are often marginalised in society. Seeing their work displayed in the museum is a great source of affirmation for Glenbridge Special School. It is a moment of pride, appreciation, and validation for all the learners involved and their parents and teachers. Do come join us for the exhibition opening!

Also look out for an invitation that we will send you later in the month – award-winning scholar, educator, speaker, and social justice advocate LaNitra Berger will talk about her 2020 published book Irma Stern and the Racial Paradox of South African Modern Art: Audacities of Color (Bloomsbury) during an informal evening of soup and discussion on 30 July, 17.00 – 19.00.

If you would like to join us for the Glenbridge exhibition opening, LaNita’s talk, or the LGBTIQA+ workshops led by Zain Nazier, please contact irmastern@uct.ac.za or zainnazier@yahoo.com. If you are interested to discuss becoming a museum patron, then please contact Director Nadja Daehnke at nadja.daehnke@uct.ac.za. 

Hope to see you soon and stay warm!

With best wishes from the ISM Team

*Image: artwork by Jonah from Glenbridge Special School