Bring power to the girls

COLLABORATION SEES ART HELP CREATE SAFE SPACES FOR YOUNG ONES Proceeds raised from the sale of the artwork will be donated to Rock Girl South Africa, a local girl-led NGO.

Cartoon Network, SA’s leading pay-TV kids’ channel, is proud to announce another African first in partnership with the free cultural experience, First Thursdays Cape Town. The Powerpuff Girls Art Factory is an innovative art exhibition that will do what the Powerpuff Girls do best: celebrate creativity, expression, empowerment and fun, while empowering young girls and giving back to the community with Rock Girl South Africa. Featuring an exhibition of unique Powerpuff Girls screen-prints by 10 of SA’s best artists and illustrators, the event will take place at 91 Loop in Cape Town and run until Tuesday.

“The PPG Art Factory is not just about fun – proceeds raised from the sale of the artwork will be donated to Rock Girl South Africa, a local girl-led NGO that advocates for the rights of girls and women,” says Pierre Branco, vice-president and general manager of Southern Europe and Africa for Turner Africa.

Rock Girl is a grassroots movement that inspires, encourages, and invests in girl-focused projects in the private and public sectors. The organisation seeks to reduce violence against women and girls through the creation of safe spaces. “Girls who are part of Rock Girl are modern day adventurers, explorers, activists, and authors – telling their own stories and laying a strong foundation for their own futures,” says India Baird, Rock Girl founder. “Just like the Powerpuff Girls, they have a ‘ Power Pose’ that helps them prepare to take on the challenges in their lives.” As part of the Safe Spaces public art and education initiative, Rock Girl creates symbolic safe spaces, in the form of benches, by partnering with artists, designers and corporates to design and create symbolic and real safe spaces.

Cartoon Network, in partnership with Rock Girl South Africa, will unveil the latest Safe Spaces bench at The PPG Art Factory. Some of the talented artists taking part at the PPG Art Factory include Thandiwe Tshabalala, Ello Xray Eyez, Qondile Dlamini, Jade Klara, Tyla Mason, Ndumiso Nyoni, Karabo Poppy Moletsane, Anja Nanna Venter, Kgabo Mametja and Jeanne Fourie.

“The local creative spirit is phenomenal and this creativity is at the core of the PPG Art Factory and the Powerpuff Girls. We are exceptionally proud to be part of such an innovative undertaking,” says Branco.

The first print of each artwork is framed and are on sale for R3 000.

Nine prints of each artwork or scene that are not framed and those are being sold for R2 000.