South Africa is still a country in transition. Its distribution of fiscal and natural resources is unequal, and whether you divide the divides into first and third world, working or middle class, or thinking in or out the box; access to information is key to riding the wave of change. Surprisingly, an area of interest often relegated to the elite and privileged understands this and is reaching out beyond tradition to include larger, more diverse audiences with world wide opinions.
Art SA is moving from a pretty, profound page-through to integrated communication across media.This makes it hip and consumable, but also accountable. From weekly email updatesto an active presence on social media, it is listening to South Africa’s art enthusiasts and gaining new fans. Here is a heads-up about its latest improvements:
THE BROADSHEET, published by Art South Africa, is distributed in connection with large local events and speaks to scholars. It links art, fashion, film, and music and encourages an appreciation of art in young South Africans. “The first of the series, The Art South Africa BROADSHEET,” says Art South Africa’s Genna Gardini, “was released at Design Indaba 2011 and looked at the differences and links between design and art in South Africa, profiling local creatives who fall into both categories.There’s so much to cover, culturally, in South Africa that it made sense to produce a free publication focused on being accessible and current.”
THE WEBSITE. 2011 means a new online space for the local art community and a portal for international interest that also gives access to the latest cultural news, offers a network for creatives, and an archival resource for students and academics.
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE. With 4958 fans at last count, the Art South Africa fan page could just about be a local band entering the big time in a small town, but instead, it’s a national arts magazine entering the social media slash online stratosphere, real time. Based in the Cape Town city centre, Art South Africa is pushing its previous limits to open new worlds up to art enthusiasts, and open art up to a new world.
Let’s hope the increase in interaction will help art move from the upper echelons of galleries and glossies to a more accessible place that priorities the people and place it speaks of.
*
Find out more at the website.
Have your say on Facebook.
