Maritzburg Sun (South Africa)

Community Chest supports deserving artists at the 58th edition of Art in the Park

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The annual Art in the Park, founded in 1962, is one of the few platforms where artists can interact with and sell their works directly to the public. The event will be held at the KZN Botanical Garden in Pietermari­tzburg. Art in the Park exposes the public to a rich tapestry of paintings, craftwork and many other artistic creations. For the past two years (2020 and 2021), this colourful and inspiring event was on hold due to Covid-19.

The Community Chest channels its efforts of enhancing communitie­s through four ‘levers’ that promote socio-economic developmen­t: education, health, income-generation/ sustainabl­e livelihood­s and welfare.

In associatin­g with Art in the Park 2022, the Community Chest identified with PMB Tourism’s (the event organiser) efforts to promote deserving, and in particular, historical­ly disadvanta­ged artists. The Community Chest identifies with and is keen to see deserving artistic entreprene­urs use the opportunit­y of Art in the Park to generate income for themselves as well as build their artistic profile. In the long run, it is hoped that such individual­s or collective­s can build momentum towards turning their talent into income-generation/ sustainabl­e livelihood­s.

Alongside such emerging talent is artist Reggie Gopaul. Gopaul is a longstandi­ng patron of the Community Chest and a prolific artist. He is a generous donor of some of his art pieces to the Community Chest, which in turn, are given as tokens of appreciati­on to other donors or used for fundraisin­g for the Community Chest.

“The more you give, the more you receive” is a maxim by which Gopaul lives by. For the 2022 Art in the Park event, Gopaul has committed to donate half of the proceed from his sales at the exhibition to the Community Chest. As the Community Chest, we appeal to visitors to the event to support Reggie Gopaul.

For more informatio­n, contact Angie on 0727910311 or email chestpro@communityc­hest.org.za

 ?? ?? Artist Menzi Lembetha with Community Chest executive director Richard Rangiah at the media launch of Art in the Park 2022. Menzi is one of the five deserving beneficiar­ies of a stipend from Community Chest to help with travel and other expenses during the exhibition.
Artist Menzi Lembetha with Community Chest executive director Richard Rangiah at the media launch of Art in the Park 2022. Menzi is one of the five deserving beneficiar­ies of a stipend from Community Chest to help with travel and other expenses during the exhibition.
 ?? ?? Artist Reggie Gopaul, a dedicated patron of the Community Chest, with his paintings for sale at this year’s Art in the Park exhibition.
Artist Reggie Gopaul, a dedicated patron of the Community Chest, with his paintings for sale at this year’s Art in the Park exhibition.

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