Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela mine collaborated with Visual Arts Cherry to launch the Tsantsabane Youth Arts and Culture programme in Tsantsabane, revealing amazing local young talent. This initiative was designed to equip the local artists with the necessary skills to unlock their hidden talent and enable them to compete on a national platform. The programme allowed them to focus on art in order to keep the youth off the street.

Tsantsabane has a wealth of young people with talent, ambition and appetite to drive arts and culture development.  As part of the Kolomela youth development programme, Kolomela mine adopted the Tsantsabane Youth Arts and Culture Programme. The programme is seen as a catalyst for youth in taking away negative impacts such as alcohol and drug abuse. 

Miss Ntombi Ntakakaze from Visual Arts Cherry said, “We are very grateful for the supportive role that Kolomela mine as a funder is playing and for the success of launching this programme.”

The programme will have a huge impact on the growth of local artists in different artistic genres and will influence the lives of their families and the community as a whole. George Benjamin, manager public affairs at Kolomela mine said, “Tsantsabane has a wealth of talent. This can be seen by the positive representation of art by the youth. The art showcased here instils confidence in the future of our youth. The region revealed real gems and an abundance of talent. I am proud to see what they are capable of and look forward to seeing more in future.”

The programme will entail visual art workshops for the youth, artists and artist educators, learners in and outside schools. KIO Kolomela communication