The session will be chaired by Dr. Munyaradzi Chatikobo, Lecturer and Head of Cultural Policy and Management in the Wits School of Arts.
He is a former Drama for Life Lecturer with vast experience in cultural
leadership and arts management training. His academic and research interests are in Cultural Policy and Management, with specific interests in Community Arts, Community Theatre, Culture and Development, Cultural Governance, Cultural Diplomacy, and Cultural Entrepreneurship.
Chatikobo holds a PhD in Arts and Culture Management
(University of the Witwatersrand 2022), a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Drama and Theatre (University of the Witwatersrand, 2009), a Special Honours in Theatre Arts and BA General Degree from University of Zimbabwe, 1995.
His PhD research area of study is Cultural Policy and Community Theatre in South Africa. He has publications on applied drama and theatre, cultural governance, arts and culture funding, cultural policy and community arts. Chatikobo’s work experience in Culture and Development as well as Cultural and Creative Industries spans over 25 years, where he served in different management roles in public institutions and private companies in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and South Africa. He is a board member for CHIPAWO Trust and a former board member of Nhimbe Trust, both in Zimbabwe.
Speakers
David Thatanelo April: Arts Administration and Entrepreneurship Coordinator at UP School of Arts and member of writing team (dance) for the NTDP.
April is a director, teacher, choreographer, and lobbyist in the realm of South African dance and performance. With over two decades of experience in the Creative and Cultural industries he has filled a diversity of roles within the performing arts sphere; performer, project manager, fundraiser, dance
adjudicator, motivational speaker and reviewer.
He imparts his longstanding knowledge of the performing arts as a dedicated mentor and advisor to arts practitioners as well as internationally acclaimed choreographers.
He is a graduate of Moving into Dance’s Community Dance Teachers Training Course (CDTTC). He completed an MA in Cultural Policy and Management at Wits University and is currently at the University of Pretoria (School of the Arts) involved in Production Logistics alongside lecturing Arts Administration & Management as well as Movement Studies.
Cornelia Faasen: CEO of the National Afrikaans Theatre Initiative (NATI) and Deputy Chair of TADA.
Faasen studied Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch University and obtained her Master’s degree Cum Laude, with a research component completed at the University of Amsterdam. In 2010 she was appointed as the Head of Arts and Culture at the University of the Free State – a position focused on transformation and integration through arts and culture amongst the student population after the infamous Reitz video. She was eventually appointed as the Dean of Student Affairs, after acting in that position for two years.
In 2016 she joined the National Afrikaans Theatre Initiative (NATi) as the CEO. This organisation is focused on the funding and development of new theatre productions and collaboration with producing festivals; with a particular interest in Afrikaans as part of the South African landscape of indigenous languages as well as a focus on alternative narratives and previously marginalised voices in Afrikaans.
She also lectures part-time at the Drama Department at Stellenbosch University, specializing in Advanced theory for postgraduate students and Introduction to the Industry for undergraduates. She has functioned as the Deputy Chairperson for the Theatre and Dance Alliance (TADA) since its inception in 2021 and she is also a founding board member of the Tribuo fund, which is a relief fund for artists.
Mpho Molepo: Director, Alex Arts Academy and Convenor of the National Theatre and Dance Policy Conference.
Molepo works in many capacities within the arts and culture sector: strategic management, policy development, advisory oversight, producer, director, actor and production management. He graduated with a BA Hons from the Wits School of Arts (2008) and went on to have a successful acting and directing career as well as running several festivals.
He is managing director and founder of the Alex Arts Academy and in 2017 was appointed National Chairperson of the National Theatre and Dance Advisory Council by the Minister of Arts and Culture. In 2021, he was appointed as project manager and National Convenor of the theatre and dance policy writing team which was tasked to produce a document that would shape a vision for theatre and dance informed by submissions from the sector itself. He currently serves on the Gauteng Arts and Culture Council as well as a theatre panel member for the National Arts Council (NAC).
The webinar will take place on Zoom and will be broadcast through Sustaining Theatre and Dance Foundation’s Facebook page on Thursday 27 October at 18:00.
Join on Zoom using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84300636669
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