Local artists set to take centre stage in Clermont
THE Clermont Arts & Flea Market (CAFM) is set to create a platform for small businesses and showcase their work, promote tourism and provide job opportunities in the Clermont area.
This was revealed yesterday during the CAFM media launch at the Sizakala Centre in Clermont, Durban.
The market – which takes place on November 26 at Christianenburg Stadium – works with multiple partners and stakeholders including the ethekwini Municipality.
CAFM’S ultimate goal is to increase tourism and provide job opportunities in Clermont.
Njabulo Shangase, who represented one of the contributing groups, Ikusasalethu Group, said: “The purpose of this initiative is to try to address social ills in the Clermont community. It’s to create a platform for small businesses and showcase their work.”
Durban was affected by Covid-19, the July unrest and the floods, which resulted in the closure of businesses and an increase in unemployment, he said. “We must commend the Clermont community for taking the initiative on how to rebuild – our homes, our families, our businesses.”
The big question was: “How do we play a role in trying to re-ignite the economy locally instead of waiting
for the government and big businesses to assist?”
Shangase said to address the challenges, they went on a campaign to identify local businesses (of which there are 80) within the community. On the day of the market, these businesses will showcase their crafts, music, fashion and food, to name but a few.
“Through that, we will create awareness and instil a culture that we don’t need to go to big malls and shopping centres to get certain services. Once we get them locally, the economy begins to change. The ripple effect will be that crime will decrease as there will be more employment locally.”
He expects approximately 1 500 people to attend the CAFM.
“The goal is to have monthly flea markets and use those as platforms for small and emerging businesses.”
Shangase said he wanted success stories to come out of the market – whereby a small business ends up in malls like Gateway or even internationally.
Chris Phili, is a CAFM stakeholder and a representative of the Clermont Kwadabeka Tourism Development, which was formed in 2013. “Our role is to promote and market Clermont Kwadabeka tourism. We try to find answers to questions of how we link businesses of Clermont Kwadabeka into the tourism economy.”
Phili wants to attract people to Clermont and says he takes pride in some of the local businesses and emphasises how those businesses have a “togetherness”.
He believes that using local artists will drive and raise awareness within the community – which will ultimately raise the profile of Clermont. “Clermont has key people when it comes to showcasing art. For example, Thami Jali – who works with the KZN Art Gallery and also has international exhibits. We are looking at ourselves not as a township.”
Clermont is a place with a history that must be spoken about, he says.
CAFM started out as a business fair in 2017 but changed its focus in 2021 to include local artists.