Exploring the Potential of a European-Funded Art Initiative in South Africa and Its Possible Future Iterations: The Impact of a Community Interaction Art Project during the COVID-19 Lockdown on Local Participating Artists in Stellenbosch, South Africa

Abstract

South Africa’s socioeconomic and cultural landscape has been shaped by a history of slavery and apartheid, which led to the formation of disadvantaged people and neglected areas. Within Stellenbosch, there are prolific and inspiring artists from disadvantaged neighborhoods who are telling authentic stories that form part of the decolonizing narrative. The Economic Empowerment through Cultural Inclusion (EECI) project aimed to find these artists and amplify their stories through practical support and business training, building confidence, gaining social capital and broadening their networks of influence on an international scale. The project is a collaboration between three universities, namely, one Belgian and two South African universities. It was funded by a Belgian government–backed initiative. This article considers the historical and social impact of the two-year EECI project in the Stellenbosch area and whether further iterations at scale in other disadvantaged areas would be desirable. Project participants were interviewed to gain an understanding of their experiences and to use their input to suggest improvements to the project for future EECI community arts projects. Overall feedback suggests that the project holds great potential at scale with a few adjustments to be made for improved communication, accountability, and bilateral skills and knowledge transfer.