Finally, Acknowledgement in Bronze for Estelle Jacobs

That all-artist friend for all
seasons, retired AVA director Estelle Jacobs, was finally given a just reward (well, sort of - if you think a curious, but elegant little bronze fits that bill) when she was named winner of this year’s Western Cape trophy for contributing to the visual arts.

A vivacious, dramatically black-dressed Jacobs received the trophy, design by Charles Haupt of Bronze Age, from the provincial director of arts, culture and language, Jane Stuurman-Moleleki, at a rather odd awards dinner in the Bloemendal party boma on the Durbanville hill.

The annual awards, in various categories, are made by the Western Cape provincial government’s department of cultural affairs and sport. Quite unique, it has been going for nine years. If you didn’t know that, it is because, for all their good intensions, the department seems rather inefficient in getting the message out. After all, if you honour someone you want to world to know.
(How about inviting the media?)

Very few of Estelle’s great many fans knew, never mind had been invited to the party. Had they been, the applause would have been tremendous. Her contribution to the local arts over the 15 years at AVA, and before, is indisputable. Well done, Estelle.

But the organisers can jack up these worthwhile awards. The process itself too is rather clouded. Beyond newspaper advertisement, very little is known how decisions are made. (Some very strange names got themselves onto the ‘nomination’ lists!) Maybe the department needs a little advice to jack up the project, process and party.

* Other winners are:
Mthobeli Phillip Guma (heritage resources); Jan Corewijn (lifelong contribution to conservation); Antonia Malan (historical archaeology); Bertdene Laubscher of the Togryers-museum (new museum project); Alfred Hinkel (dance); Theo Vilakazi (drama); Camillo Lombard (music); Jungle Theatre Company (innovative community art and culture project); Bethesda, Bergrivier Association for persons with disabilities (disabilities in art); Nyanga Arts Development Centre (innovative community art centre);
Cape Education Trust, Early Learning Resource Unit (promotion of multilingualism); Ntsiki Ntusikazi (promotion of three official languages); Andries van Niekerk (promotion of marginalised indigenous and SA sign languages); Rocklands library (Teresa Denton) (community-involved library); Table View library (Elmarie Weldman) (best library/librarian); Francois Verster (promotion of archive services); Thandi Swartbooi (achievement of women in the arts, culture, heritage, language, libraries, archives); Ama-ambush (achievement of youth in that field).

Lifetime achievement awards were presented by MEC Cameron Dugmore to Sithathu ‘Boks’ Mkonto, Sulaiman Christian and Johaar Mosaval. ‘Legends of the arts’ awards were made to Errol Dyers and Christopher Kindo.