The Gompo Arts Centre was a proud winner in the Isakhono Awards, which were held earlier this year.
The arts centre was recognised for its hard work within the arts space, mainly with respect to drama performances.
The Isakhono awards, launched in January this year, are aimed at ensuring arts and culture practitioners have access to funding to produce new work.
This year’s recipients each received R200,000 that they can use towards creating their own original production. Sonwabile Mfecane, who works with Isakhono, said the prize money was a huge boost for the beneficiaries.
“Each recipient received an amount of R200,000, and we will ensure they use the money wisely.
“We will be opening offices in East London soon, which will allow us to work with the recipients and ensure the work they produce will be featured long into the future, and even at the next Makhanda National Arts Festival,” said Mfecane. The centre’s chairperson, Wandile Ntlanganiso, said the production they were busy working on showcased both the history of Duncan Village as well as the area’s talented youth.
“I think it is important for us to share the history of Duncan Village. We are going to put on a drama production and hopefully perform it all over the Eastern Cape,” said Ntlanganiso.
The production, called Elite of 1952, will also include the story of Sister Aidan Quinlan who played a vital role in assisting the people of Duncan Village. She was sadly murdered.
The awards are divided into eight categories: Isakhono Theatre Fellow, Isakhono Women in Arts Fellow, Isakhono Musical Theatre and Dance Fellow, Isakhono Jazz Fellow, Isakhono Student Theatre Fellow, Isakhono Community Arts Development Fellow, Isakhono Artist with Disability Fellow, and Isakhono Arts Research and Writing Fellow.
