An art installation put up in Stellenbosch during the hard lockdown last year resulted in R1.5 million in tuition fees being raised for Stellenbosch students who were unable to pay university fees due to the economic effects of Covid-19.
‘The Chinese Girl’, painted by Vladimir Tretchikoff, situated in Church Street, Stellenbosch. This one of the five famous artworks, ‘Masked Masterpieces’, displayed around Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Lara van Zyl
“The Sophia Foundation made a major contribution [of] R1 million to the ‘Masked Masterpieces’ campaign and from this funding we awarded 20 bursaries of R50 000 each,” said Pieter Swart, the director of Major Gifts and Transformational Giving at Stellenbosch University (SU). “The 20 students have been identified and chosen by the bursary office,” said Swart.
The Sophia Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation that donates funding to projects that focus on conservation and leadership. Lorraine Forbes, the founder of this organisation, told MatieMedia that they were involved in an online leadership programme at SU. The money left over from this project was donated to the ‘Masked Masterpieces’ as it was “the best way to spend that money,” explained Forbes.
The students who were chosen for these bursaries, fall under the Missing Middle and will be attending the first of many sessions on 27 and 28 March to be informed about the logistics regarding the bursary, according to Swart. “They will, as an added advantage, undergo four leadership sessions during 2021,” said Swart.
‘The Initiate’ by Irma Stern, situated on the corner of Bird Street and Dorp Street, Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Lara van Zyl
“When I received the bursary, I was – and still am – grateful for the opportunity and motivated for my third year,” said Genevieve Labuschagne, a BA Humanities final year student who is one of 20 recipients of the bursary. “I also feel honoured to have been chosen.”
Apart from the money donated by the Sophia Foundation, additional money was raised by tourists and locals who donated via the placards next to the artworks, which contained banking details and a Snapscan barcode. The remaining funds will create more bursaries that will be awarded to deserving students, according to Swart.
The placard of ‘The Initiate’ by Irma Stern, situated in Dorp Street, Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Lara van Zyl
The five famous artworks, the ‘Masked Masterpieces’, were donated by private sector institutions and have been on display since August 2020.
“The idea was to celebrate a selection of South Africa’s great artists,” said Andi Norton, a strategic management consultant at Imagine Inc. The installation has been extended to the end of March, according to Norton.