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RECENT EVENTS
Archbishop Tutu opens new building extensions at Philani, 13 December 2007
On 13 December 2007, the Board, Committee and staff of Philani were delighted to welcome our Patron, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu to the Philani Development Centre in Site C, Khayelitsha. Archbishop Tutu opened the completed first stage of new building work at the Development Centre and met Philani staff, mothers and supporters, including Mrs Mollander, wife of the Swedish Ambassador to South Africa. The Archbishop was regaled with praise singing by Philani Outreach workers and performances by Philani Educare children. The event was filmed for a special edition of the BBC's long-running religious programme, Songs of Praise, in the UK.
Philani artists given international showcase in the USA, September/October 2007
Following the inspirational mentoring and training in linoleum printing given by Americans Joan Needham and Kate Somers to Philani's silk-screen printers in February 2007, Philani's artists were given an international showcase at Princeton University. Kate Somers, curator of the Bernstein Gallery at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School, conceived and curated the show, Improving Health in Poor Countries: What Works?, 17 September to 26 October 2007.
Philani artists' first linoleum print exhibition, 28 February 2007
Throughout February 2007, Philani's silk-screen printers worked with two volunteers from the USA, Joan Needham (retired professor of printmaking) and Kate Somers (curator of the Princeton University Gallery). Joan developed the women's artistic skills, by training them in the art of linoleum block printing. The results were exemplary, leaving the women not only with a new string to their bow, but with an invigorated feeling of artistic inspiration. Now motivated to develop their design and printing skills further, the printers have been given a new opportunity to earn money at Philani.
Philani is extremely grateful to Joan and Kate for donating their expertise, support and enthusiasm to the project. Their participation arises from an ongoing informal relationship between Philani and Princeton University. We anticipate that it will also mark the start of a developing series of creative partnerships between Philani and artists and relevant bodies in Cape Town and beyond. Kate will stage an exhibition on Philani at Princeton later this year, featuring the prints.
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