HILLCREST High School, in collaboration with Oxford Freshmarket’s Art 4 Education initiative, has proudly unveiled a striking new addition to the school’s campus, a vibrant 19m mural. The initiative was inspired by the long-held dream of Oxford Freshmarket CEO Brett Latimer, whose vision was to create meaningful opportunities for young artists while strengthening ties with local schools.

The initiative brought together creativity, community, and collaboration in a meaningful way. The mural was conceptualised and designed by Hillcrest High School matric learner Ariel Naicker, winner of the Art 4 Education competition. With the guidance of renowned local graffiti artist Giffy Duminy, Ariel’s design has now quite literally left a legacy on the school’s walls.

“It means a lot to me that my design is being painted on the wall for the next generation of HHS learners to see and enjoy,” said Ariel. “I am so grateful for the opportunity that Oxford has given me, to leave my mark, to work with Giffy, and to help my family with the contribution towards my school fees, which has freed up funds for other expenses.”

The official unveiling was marked by celebration and excitement, with learners, teachers and staff members gathering to witness the completed mural in its entirety. Oxford pulled out all the stops to turn the event into a memorable one, spoiling the learners with treats and vibes from DJ, Lloyd Paul. The school community applauded the collaboration between Oxford Freshmarket, Ariel and Giffy, highlighting the power of art to unite and inspire.

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“I love that Oxford and Hillcrest High School created this opportunity for learners, it is very meaningful to me,” Ariel said. “Oxford’s focus on schools and the younger generation to find talent – especially in a time when AI generated art is everywhere – is so important. I would really like to commend them for this great campaign and believe it will be a huge benefit to the arts and especially to art in education.”

Denise Knight, principal of Hillcrest High School, expressed her appreciation: “We are incredibly grateful to Oxford for the opportunity to be the pilot school for the Art 4 Education programme. When we refurbished our netball courts last year, we hoped to enhance the visual appeal of the space and pitched the idea of an art competition to Oxford to have a mural painted on the wall. They embraced the idea and brought in the talented local street artist, Giffy, who brought our vision to life. The fact that they are now expanding the initiative to other schools is fantastic and further evidence of their brand slogan ‘With You in Mind,’ adapted to ‘With Youth in Mind.’”

The Art 4 Education initiative highlights Oxford Freshmarket’s commitment to supporting local schools and empowering young creatives. By investing in projects that combine art and education, Oxford continues to foster community engagement while encouraging learners to dream big and express themselves boldly.

With its bold colours and powerful message, the mural stands not only as a piece of public art, but as a lasting reminder of collaboration, creativity and community spirit at Hillcrest High School.

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