This video is an edited version of the panel discussion on the non-formal arts educational sector in South Africa that took place at the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) in Cape Town on April 13th. Panellists: Jill Trappler, Orange Art Project; Richard Kilpert, Art Rout and Fabian Hartzenberg, The Peter Clarke Art Centre. Convener: Liesl Hartman, Zeitz MOCAA head of education. This discussion launched the new New Adventuring Into Art Digital Content for the Adventuring Into Art website https://imbaliartbooks.org.za/.

This content has been developed by Imbali with support from the MTN SA Foundation in 2023 and 2024. The Imbali/MTN partnership has endured for 23 years, and has received recognition from the Business & Arts South Africa (BASA) Awards more than once, for its contributions to increasing access to arts and community development. The Imbali Artbooks: Adventuring Into Art, launched in 2018. In 2021, the partnership introduced the Adventuring Into Art website, complementing the existing books and providing a dynamic platform for engagement.

This digital extension allowed for continuous updates and supplementary materials, ensuring wider reach and impact. Approximately 1080 schools across South Africa have benefited from the book roll-out-and-workshop programme. To further extend their reach, Imbali produced fourteen short films, including instructional videos and artist interviews, aimed at enhancing a deeper engagement with both looking at art and making art. The instructional videos cover topics such as colour mixing, still-life painting, drawing, sculpture, and visual literacy.

The artist interview series features prominent South African artists, namely, Usha Seejarim, Keith Dietrich, Omar Badsha, Pat Mautloa, Jo Ractliffe, Mongezi Ncaphayi, and Bongi Bengu, discussing their work and its inclusion in the Imbali Artbooks. Notably, the production process of the artist interview series involved high school learners and students, providing them with valuable experience in online research, journalism, media, and communications. A quantitative analysis report demonstrates the significant impact of the programme, with over a million learners benefiting from improved arts education between 2019 and 2023. The Adventuring Into Art website has garnered thousands of visitors globally, showcasing the project’s international appeal and influence.