by Gerrit Bester
The rhythm of creativity collided with purpose as the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design launched the Friends of the Faculty initiative on 18 September.
Prof Nalini Moodley, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design and the driving force behind the Friends of the Faculty initiative, described the occasion as a pivotal milestone in the Faculty’s transformative journey.
The launch, held at the Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel in Pretoria, was more than a fundraising effort; it was an invitation to partnership, to forge meaningful networks and to bring stakeholders into a shared dialogue that would create new opportunities for students and projects to flourish.
Attendees included industry partners from each of the Faculty’s five departments (Fine and Studio Arts, Interior Design, Performing Arts, Fashion Design and Visual Communication) as well as other stakeholders and dignitaries, among them Christian Mandl, the Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum Pretoria. Additionally, partners from the South African State Theatre, Apple and Holgoun Investment Holdings were also present at the event.
BOLD MOMENT FOR COLLABORATION
Speaking at the event, Prof Nalini Moodley, Executive Dean and the driving force behind this initiative, described the occasion as a pivotal milestone in the Faculty’s transformative journey.
“This evening, we do more than gather. We dare. We dream. We plant. For tonight is not simply the launch of an initiative. It is the planting of a seed; a seed of collaboration, of imagination and of responsibility for the future of creativity in our country.”
“Tonight, we dare to imagine what the Faculty of Arts and Design might become when surrounded, strengthened and accompanied by friends,” she added.
Prof Moodley emphasised that a thriving creative ecosystem rests on the invisible scaffolding of friendships and partnerships. “Friends of the Faculty is not a polite label. It is a catalysing call to action, a summons, if you like, to co-create a future worthy of our artists where creativity cannot be silenced.”
FACULTY STRENGTHS AND MILESTONES
She highlighted the Faculty’s strengths, noting that despite its size it ranks highly among TUT’s seven faculties. The highlights include a near 90% success rate over eight years, one of the highest graduation rates at 30%, gender equity across staff and students, national standing in creative research output and a strong cohort of National Research Foundation–rated professors.
Flagship events such as the recent TUT Arts Festival and the Dean’s Concert were also cited. This year, the Arts Festival attracted 6 500 visitors, while the world class Dean’s Concert at the SA State Theatre drew about 1 000 attendees.
The TUT Arts Festival was further described as perhaps the continent’s largest student-driven arts festival.
Prof Moodley outlined three core focus areas for Friends of the Faculty:
Opening doors to networks, to industries, to the corridors of influence. “We need to get into the boardroom, the golf course, the wine tasting etc. We will strategically focus our discussion, but we need your help to guide us into the room. So, help us to leverage your influence.”
Partnering on research and innovation that speaks to South Africa and the world, with a current emphasis on Artivism and bridges to address societal change.
Identifying synergies to brand and support high-impact projects, including sourcing scholarships and bursaries to ease student debt and encourage Advanced Diploma and Post-graduate Diploma enrolment.
LIVE PARTNERSHIP, LASTING IMPACT
Prof Moodley reaffirmed that being a Friend of the Faculty is not ceremonial or passive. “It is a lived relationship in which supporters see the brilliance of students, witness the vision of researchers, feel the passion of lecturers and, in turn, help shape the next generation of creative leaders and build the artistic cathedral the world needs.”
“This is not charity or patronage. It is a partnership, a covenant of co-creation. To say to our students: Your creativity matters. Your future matters. And we will invest in you.”
“May this gathering be remembered as the beginning of a long, fruitful and transformative journey of friendship,” Prof Moodley concluded.
The event soared on the radiant performances of the Department of Performing Arts staff and students, highlighted by the exceptional duo of Dr Roland Moses, celebrated jazz pianist, and Prof Karendra Devroop, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, alongside dynamic student dancers.
Their masterful performances didn’t just entertain. It resonated deeply, striking a powerful chord with every attendee and turning the evening into a memorable celebration of talent and artistry.
The event soared on the radiant performances of the Department of Performing Arts staff and students, highlighted by the exceptional duo of Dr Roland Moses, celebrated jazz pianist, and Prof Karendra Devroop, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, alongside dynamic student dancers.
Here’s to Friends of the Faculty of Arts and Design! Attendees included industry partners from each of the Faculty’s five departments as well as other stakeholders and dignitaries.
PHOTOS: Department of Visual Communication (Commercial Photography programme)