AZAC asks for support from community and businesses
AZAC offers that space where young people and anyone interested in the arts the opportunity to learn and be creative.
Rondebult resident Ziphilele ‘Speech’ Mayiji is helping the community through arts. Speech, a cultural activist and performing arts practitioner, is the founder of A-Z Art Centre (AZAC), a NPO that provides artistic skills to the community.
“We have lots of talent in our community that needs nurturing. AZAC offers that space where young people and anyone interested in the arts an opportunity to learn and be creative,” said Speech.
AZAC was established in 2005 and over the years the centre has ran workshops in dance, music, visual arts, drama and has also tackled societal themes such as HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse.
He said the journey has not been easy because of the lack of funds and space. It has, however, not hindered them to continue pursuing their passion.
“Despite not having a permanent space, AZAC has successfully established a reputation for creating innovative and much-needed arts and culture-based projects within the communities it serves,” said Speech.
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The centre found a space in Rondebult in 2017 and renovated it. The municipality rezoned that space for arts and cultural activities. “The municipality has leased the space to us and recently the Department of Arts and Culture fixed our toilets and bought us office equipment. We now lease the space.
“The facility was just going to waste and being used as a hiding spot for criminals and drug users,” said Speech.
He added the centre needs the community and surrounding businesses to support them in order to keep the centre running and for it to be able to extend its lease.
“We still need to do a number of renovations. We need mobile rooms for arts classes, fencing, a generator and solar system, catering equipment, computers and funding to run the office.”
AZAC has hosted workshops and festivals in partnership with Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Arts and Culture, Wits Arts and Culture Department, Market Theatre and Business and Arts South Africa.
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