Durban arts facilitator goes to Germany

A DURBAN BAT Centre facilitator will head to Germany for a visual art residency in Bremen, where artists around the world have been invited to explore many forms of art from the perspective of other art professionals. Ncumisa Mcitwa has been a facilitator at the BAT Centre for two years, organising and overseeing the many programmes the centre is running.

Mcithwa will be in Germany for three months, touring and exploring art institutions, galleries and workshops of artists who have dominated the art industry. Bremen, a city in Germany, is known for its rich history and historical galleries and museums, with medieval buildings dating back to circa 1404 and modern architectural buildings.

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“I am so excited for this because it is an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to live in the country and learn something I have been passionate about all my life. I know I am going to learn so much, which will not only impact me, my art and work but also the people around me as I plan to come back and share my knowledge,” said Mcitwa.

Mcithwa studied the arts at eThekwini FET College, after which she moved to the Durban University of Technology to study Fine Arts and Graphic Design. She also studied Psychology at UNISA, all of which she says has moulded her and contributed to not only her work as an artist but also her work as a facilitator, which is why she is excited about her trip to Germany.

Since the BAT Centre is a non-government organisation that relies on sponsorships and funding from stakeholders, such as the eThekwini Municipality, Mcithwa’s journey of learning and exploration is made possible by the partnership the BAT Centre has with the City to enrich the people of the city with knowledge and skills.

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Mcithwa was part of a group of BAT Centre artists who collaborated with Venezuelan artists to erect the mural at the BAT Centre, which showcases the engagement and collaboration of the centre with other countries to expand their knowledge and skills but also to form relationships that will allow for programmes such as the one that Mcithwa will be embarking on.

For more than 20 years, the BAT Centre has sent many of their patrons to Bremen, through their partnership that has spanned decades. Each year, Bremen makes an open call to the BAT Centre for their patrons to apply for the residency programme that has, over the years, not only benefited the attendees but also strengthened the relationship between the art centre and the world. The patrons are expected to apply for the programme and follow all the requirements needed in order to be considered a suitable candidate.

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