THE department of sport, arts, culture and Recreation, PACOFS and the Free State Tourism Authority are grooming 20 young writers from the province in script writing, directing and film making in the MACUFE Aftercare programme.
The twenty writers were chosen amongst many through district auditions that took place prior the MACUFE 2011. The one week programme is aimed at developing and ensuring that skills and training continues beyond the festival, to also empower them with basic tools for production.
The department will not only concentrate on performing arts but on fine arts as well, to ensure that opportunity is given to every artist. The aftercare programme will see more writers getting exposure and resources needed to nature the talent.
Head of Department Advocate Makalane said the province has writers with unique and interesting stories that need such workshops “We will allow individual expression and not paint every writer with the same brush, they will be given quality training and enhance professional tendencies.”
“We want to retain skillful people in the province and create a new circle of writers. The current centres have artistic value, so we need to brand these artists.”
One of South Africas great writers Mtutuzeli Matshoba who is one of the mentors stressed that such workshops are needed and need to be visible to aspiring writers “We need more occasions like this to see more writers emerging and coming alive. There is a lot of potential that needs mentorship, whether experienced writers or new beginners they are all essential.”
The young writers all come from different backgrounds, some from rural areas explained how difficult it was for them to pursue their talent and getting a breakthrough.
“It is difficult growing up in areas where writing is not at all recognised, you don’t have people to share your stories with and no one to give you feedback about the story you have written, I am grateful to be part of the workshop and hope my writing matures enough to be recognised,” said Mpho Lovinga
Television and theatre scriptwriters Neo Matsunyane and Kalosi Ramakhulu are among others who will be conducting the workshops.
