Magazine 2020

172 | Edition No. 23 | 2020 The Secondary Faculty Culture Department welcomes everyone to the family and has opportunities for expression for all our learners, wherever their interests may lie. Our emerging young artists are encouraged to explore the many disciplines on offer and to find what fits them best and where they feel most at home. 2020 has seen no exception to this promise regardless of the challenges imposed by the restrictions of this unprecedented year. 2020 will be remembered as a year where the Arts have seen a rejuvenation and a global renewal of interest in creative endeavour. It has been noted that in this time of distress and discomfort many have been consoled, buoyed up, distracted and inspired by theArts. Many have used the luxury of time awarded by LOCKDOWN to explore their latent creativity and their lives are richer for it. The Arts offer an opportunity for connection with self, through self expression and reflection, and others, through sharing and ap - preciation. Like exercise for the body, artistic practice is a way to positively channel emotions and calm the mind. The American writer John Steinbeck said: The theatre is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed. It requires tough and devoted people to keep it alive. This quote is displayed on my white board as a reminder that this too shall pass and that the Arts will survive. The magic of live performance is still as necessary and important as it ever was but it has been a year of great excitement and growth in the in- dustry as a whole. The availability of the performing arts through streaming and on demand platforms has created a new audience, a global one.The Culture Department has embraced this trend and we have had the opportunity to host local artists such as Zolani, The Kiffness and Siv Ngesi who were interviewed live about their experience of LOCKDOWN as creative artists. These interviews formed part of the Grade 8 Creative Arts offering. The Culture Department has been recognised as being champions of Cultural Diversity at the College and our work in this sphere remains a top priority. Co-Curricular classes continued and learners danced, played and acted in their bedrooms, living rooms and garages. The Park- lands College Internal Music and Drama Eisteddfod was initiated, with our esteemed adjudicators Mrs Roche Buckle, Dr Sibanda, Mrs Nock and Mr Ernstzen. Learners were entered for theWest- ern Cape Virtual Eisteddfod and the Cape Town Eisteddfod held the Solo Dance category. Congratulations to all our learners who participated. It was noted how seamlessly our learners transi- tioned to working to the camera, those countless hours of online lessons undoubtedly paid off. All agree though that performing on film doesn’t hold a candle to hearing the applause of an apprecia - tive audience, a sound which we hope to hear again in the not too distant future. Finally some words of gratitude are due, firstly to the dedicated part time and full time staff of the Culture Department who rose to the challenge that was 2020. Your ingenuity in creating online lessons and your commitment to the learners and the Depart- ment is inestimable. Thank you for making this year such a suc- cess for the Culture Department.Thank you to Mrs Roth and Mrs Steyn who are our champions and believe in arts in education, not as a luxury, but as a necessity for all learners to emerge as fully rounded individuals. A final word of thanks to our wonderful par - ents, it is thanks to your support that we are able to help learners reach their full potential. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Catherine Dodders