The Art of Change: "Manifesting the New" in Cape Town, South Africa

July 26, 2021

Our project partner, the Butterfly Art Project (BAP) in South Africa, helps children in the Vrygrond township in Cape Town to shape a hopeful future for themselves. Their daily lives are marked by violence, drugs, and hunger.

Through art projects, the children discover their cultural heritage and learn practical ways of peaceful coexistence. In this protected environment, they develop their talents and are prepared for future schooling—a privilege not taken for granted in the townships. Many former participants now attend school with pride and joy.

There is good news from South Africa: At the Butterfly Art Project, there is a sense of departure, renewal, and motion. “Manifesting the New” is the theme of the current art therapy work. The project demonstrates in various ways how much change is possible when children are given the appropriate framework. Local art mediators were involved in this seven-month art project. They were specially trained in workshops on the subject. Beloved artworks sent by artists from all over Cape Town were redesigned by the children. The implementation took place with children from the communities.

As the culmination of the project, an exhibition of the created artworks was opened on Friday, July 23, at the Center for Art Education in the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town. Under the ongoing lockdown restrictions, the vernissage was primarily virtual. A tour of the extensive exhibition, accompanied by the art mediators, can be viewed at https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/.

The stream of the virtual tour can be found here.

The valuable art therapy work of BAP continues to need support. Every donation enables new hope!