Barloworld ARTWORKS mentoring programme update February 2010

Published by Business and Arts South Africa

Barloworld ARTWORKS mentoring programme in association with Business and Arts South Africa has successfully been pairing business people with arts organizations around the country for the past five years. Through the programme, business practitioners engage directly with arts organizations, giving them practical and strategic insight, helping them to formulate strategies and implement ideas. Mentors benefit from exposure to the artistic world, acquiring a new perspective which is enormously refreshing and fun – to quote one mentor.

One such pairing has seen Dale Smith, a CPA, mentor the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company in financial management and planning

The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company teaches over 1000 aspiring music students from around Johannesburg and in schools in Thokoza, Sebokeng and Soweto.
Dale Smith, financial accountant and music lover, has been helping the Orchestra Company as their Barloworld ARTWORKS mentor with financial management, creating readable spreadsheets and preparing the budget pack for Board meetings. Dale helped Director Laurie Wapenaar set up a finance committee which meets quarterly. Dale attends these meetings whilst the sounds of music instruction linger in the background, at the Orchestra Company’s offices at Wits University’s Education Campus in Parktown. Perhaps our next Gerard Korsten will emerge from the opportunity provided by the Orchestra Company?

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism brings e-marketing advice to the Motherwell Arts Centre

“During the month of May 2009 Michelle Constant facilitated a hands on workshop with staff and stake-holders at the Red Location Museum in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth. The aim being to better promote the Arts Museum, give it greater visibility in the metro and increase foot traffic. One of the delegates attending the conference was Done Louw, dynamic, Co-ordinator and IT fundi from Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism. Done was inspired by Michelle’s call for Mentors in the region, people with special skills that could be imparted to a struggling Arts Organisation. Motherwell Arts was identified as desperately needing a mentor and so this partnership began. Unathi Sonti of Motherwell Arts has had numerous meetings with Done where issues such as website development and, E-Marketing activities to draw traffic to the website were investigated. This will be done through search engine optimization, social networking tools such as Facebook, and Twitter. A YouTube page will also be created where Motherwell Arts will be able to upload videos of their activities which will then be integrated into the website so that visitors can view their videos on the website.

Future plans include getting involved with SACCI in the Eastern Cape where Motherwell Art’s services could be used for conference entertainment (dance, music) and handmade promotional goodies (crafts) can be included in delegate bags.

Done invited Unathi to attend the monthly Tourism Forum Meetings, an excellent networking opportunity with the aim to include Motherwell Arts on the local Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism calendar.
This partnership continues to work well, with the Mentee being most grateful for the donation of the Mentor’s time and considerable talent. The Mentor is pleased at the opportunity to “grow” Motherwell Arts with the view to greater social upliftment in the area, especially amongst the youth in what is currently the third largest Township in South Africa. ”