Our Second Meeting

There are a number of changes and developments taking place within the wider Umthombo organisation which may have an impact on the specific remit of this project. In discussion, it was felt that although a focus of the original proposal was to decorate the drop-in centre, it may be more beneficial to take a wider view. The ‘heart’ of the original proposal was to promote creative arts-based activities as part of the outreach programmes in Umthombo and to train Umthombo staff members to continue with this work. This will be therefore be the central focus of the project.

A key component of the project is the employment of an ‘artist in residence’. We discussed the skills necessary for such a position and felt that it would be important to find someone that is not only an artist but also an experienced teacher or community worker. The person must be able to organise and facilitate a range of arts based projects and their short-term employment should be seen as pump-priming for longer term work in the area. One aspect of their employment may be the searching for additional, longer term funding to sustain the project into the future.

Bernice has made contact with a person who is willing to support the HR process of writing a job description, clarifying legal positions etc. This will be very helpful. Bernice and Annabelle will liaise to write a job description which can be circulated for comments. Bernice also has a number of contacts who may be able to help with advertising and recruitment of a suitable person.

Meanwhile, it was suggested that we trial a number of creative arts-based activities in order to test the venues, times and activities that are most successful and to inform the future work. Annabelle will liaise with the Umthombo outreach team and contacts of Richard and Bernice to put together a varied timetable of activities over the next 2 months. More information to follow!

Also, some feedback from the previous meeting: Psychology Students only take placements where they are supervised by a qualified psychologist so this would be inappropriate; Fine art students no longer have community outreach as part of their course; Drama students are engaging in prison-based outreach this year, they may be interested in working with street children but would need a proposal to be submitted for next academic year.