Children's Art Centre marks 80 years with fundraising initiatives

The Children’s Art Centre is celebrating their 80th anniversary and are organising various fundraising events ahead of their founding day in October.

The centre, which has their home at the Zonnebloem College Estate in Walmer Estate, was first established at St Phillips School in Chapel Street in District Six in 1945 by then headmaster, George Veldsman along with teachers, Sydney McKie and Ursula Strydom to help troubled children at the school.

The art school would then move to a building in Victoria Walk, Woodstock, in 1950, under the leadership of principal Sydney McKie. In 1970 they moved to their current location at Zonnebloem College Estate under principal August J Hopley. Due to tough financial constraints, they had to partner with the Battswood Art Centre in 1986, but in 2011 they got their full autonomy under principal Ayesha Price.

Berenice Carelse-Plato is the current principal since 2016.

She says their main purpose is to develop art skills as well as creativity in a holistic way. “We prepare young people to flourish in a creative space and develop a balanced approach to life. We teach our learners how to find beauty in their environment as well as the importance of preserving our heritage for the next generation.”

The children’s art centre serves various schools in District Six including Holy Cross Primary, Walmer Primary, Walmer High, Rahmaniyeh Primary, Zonnebloem Boys', Zonnebloem Girls' and the Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf.

Holy Cross principal, Nomthandazo Zweni says they have had a long relationship with the art centre. "It helps our pupils with their creativity, and even if there is a pupil that is struggling academically they become good at art because of the art centre."

Ms Zweni says the art centre would even go the extra mile during winter and send art teachers to the school instead of having a group of pupils walking in the rain.

Rahmaniyeh Primary School principal, Shireen Jaffer says the art centre has a profound impact on pupils. "The art centre is a tranquil oasis, where students can escape the hustle and bustle of ordinary school life and tap into their creative potential."

She says the art centre allowed her pupils to unleash their imagination and creativity, producing truly magnificent artwork that "testified to the power of art to inspire and uplift".

Principal Carelse-Plato says the art centre has stood the test of time. “We have faced many challenges but have continued to follow the common ideology to allow an honest and safe space for learners to express their creativity.” 

In its 80th year, they are working hard on fundraising. They held an Alice in Wonderland-themed party at their school on Saturday March 15 with many more fundraisers planned for the year.

Ms Carelse-Plato says they received limited funding from the provincial education department which only covers the teaching resources. “Additional funding is required to improve our infrastructure like improving the outdoor spaces, pathways and basins in our foundation phase classrooms,” she says. They also want to use funding to assist pupils who are struggling to cover their art fees.

Ms Carelse- Plato says their goals for the future is to expand their outreach programmes to the broader community of provincial education department schools as well as community organisations in the area. 

For future fundraising events to attend, you can follow the school’s Facebook and Instagram pages by searching for the Children’s Art Centre. You can also call them at 021 465 3140 or email admin@thechildrensartcentre.co.za if you would like to get involved with the school.