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Transcript of ACT|UJ Conference 'Welcome'UJ - University of Johannesburg05/24/2012 16:40:30 
Instead of the typical Welcome Address, UJ Arts' dynamic duo took the UJ Arts Centre stage in a Samuel Beckett styled skit. The head of UJ Arts & Culture, Ashraf Johaardien (AJ) and Production and Performing Arts Manager, Grace Meadows (GM) kicked off the inaugural ACT | UJ Arts & Culture Conference with an unusual welcome. Instead of the typical Welcome Address, the dynamic duo took the stage of the UJ Arts Centre Theatre in a Samuel Beckett styled skit transcribed here: GM: Red. AJ: Black. GM: Lenin. AJ: John. GM: No. Valdimir. AJ: Ah. GM: Jacob Zuma. AJ: Ah. Brett Murray GM: Yes, “The Spear” AJ: Whose spear GM: His "spear" AJ: Ah yes. Otherwise known as an organ of state! GM: In red and black On display AJ: For all to see. GM: Art AJ: But is it? GM: Insulting? Disrespectful? Offensive? AJ: No – I mean is it art? GM: For sure. And very expensive at that. R136.000. AJ: That’s money. GM: Art and the economy. AJ: Very creative. GM: The painting or the defacing? AJ: Now that’s a tough one. GM: Freedom of expression? AJ: Yes, Artistic. Spoken. Cultural. GM: Define culture. AJ: Who? GM: You and me. AJ: We? GM: Yes we. You. Me. Them. AJ: Them? GM: Yes, all of us. AJ: So ask them. GM: We’ll get to them. You try first. AJ: Okay. GM: Okay. AJ: Culture … Let’s see: modes of life the fundamental rights of the human being value systems traditions beliefs the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterise a society or social group? GM: Nice. My turn. Ask me. AJ: Okay, define art. GM: Okay. Art. Wow. AJ: Well? GM: Art is … Awesome! Inspiring! AJ: Nice … but … GM: But what? AJ: Try again. GM: How about: performing arts visual arts literature new media? AJ: Music? GM: Of course music. Musicians perform music. A performing art. AJ: Dance? GM: Of course dance. The dancer performs the dance. Also a performing art. AJ: Poetry? GM: Is literature, no? AJ: Advertising? GM: I have a problem with this. AJ: What? GM: Defining art. Defining culture. AJ: Then let’s not. GM: Now what? AJ: Don’t really know. I just work here. GM: Oh yes. Me too. AJ: Don’t know? Or just work here? GM: Both. AJ: And them? GM: Oh yes. Them. We’re meant to welcome THEM. AJ: Oh yes. Then let’s: GM: But first … ladies and gentlemen … allow me to introduce, AJ Johaardien, the Head of UJ Arts & Culture AJ: … and allow me to introduce GM Meadows, our Production & Performing Arts Manager. (To GM) Now? GM: Yes now is good. AJ: Excellent! Honoured guests GM: Partners, sponsors, speakers, panellists, delegates AJ: Friends GM: On behalf of the University of Johannesburg AJ: Welcome to the UJ Arts Centre Theatre … GM: … and the inaugural ACT UJ Arts & Culture Conference 2012! NOTES TO THE EDITORS The Arts and Culture Trust (ACT), in partnership with UJ Arts & Culture at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are presenting the inaugural ACT | UJ Arts & Culture Conference 'The Arts of the Creative Economy' in the UJ Arts & Culture Centre. The conference sets the stage for representatives from national entities, major funding agencies and corporate sponsors of the arts, arts activists and luminaries from various genres across the sector, to come together to share their knowledge and insights with conference delegates with a view to empowering the sector towards its increased economic participation, recognition and support. THE ARTS & CULTURE TRUST (ACT) is South Africa’s premier independent arts funding and development agency. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the amount of funding available for arts and culture initiatives, and to apply these funds to innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. Go to www.act.org.za for more information about ACT including our funding programmes, criteria for assessment or to submit an application online. Follow ACT on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/actorgza or like ACT on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arts-Culture-Trust-ACT/162339817162875 UJ ARTS & CULTURE is a world-class performing and visual arts facility offering a wide range of vocational and hands-on practical training programmes in various aspects of the performing arts on all four UJ campuses. The UJ Arts Centre, is located on the Kingsway Campus and comprises an art gallery, a 436-seater state of the art theatre, dance studios and choir rooms. Other facilities include the intimate Experimental Theatre on the Kingsway Campus and the 150-seater Con Cowan Theatre and dance studios on the Bunting Road Campus. In addition to producing student drama, dance and musical theatre, these venues also serve as receiving houses for professional South African and international productions, concerts, exhibitions and events. For more information go the www.uj.ac.za/arts. GRACE MEADOWS is a creative producer and drama for life practitioner. Awarded for her role in public enlightenment, international friendship and mass communication, Meadows conducted her MA research towards a poetics for Theatre as Activism. She is an arts educator in human rights (applied drama) and the Production and Performing Arts Manager at the University of Johannesburg. ASHRAF JOHAARDIEN is an arts manager, award-winning playwright and performer. He grew up in Cape Town. He has been published widely and his plays have been produced at mainstream theatres and festivals in South Africa and the USA, as well as in Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands. He was named one of the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in 2008. Artslink.co.za Account: Ehllene Bekker University of Johannesburg ecbekker@uj.ac.za 011 559 3058 083 383 7709 University of Johannesburg www.uj.ac.za/arts Web site: http://www.uj.ac.za/arts
Related Venue:
UJ Arts Centre, cnr Kingsway and University Road Auckland Park Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa
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