Is the Arts a dying industry?

The arts industry has certainly changed over the years. Arts has evolved from the days of carvings on stones and wood, paintings created from powder paints, to the more digitalised kind of art that features currently in the mordern world


1) “Yes, the arts are going down. The market is bad and there is no appreciation for our work. We come from far, Zimbabwe to South Africa and then there is no support. People create art and nobody supports. “
- Shakespeare


2) “Art is art, we sell different items. There is no one big place for artists to display their work, we are all separated. Art is about knowledge and yet there are no buyers. I will not come to Grahamstown again, it is expensive to travel so far and make no profit.”
- Fewawi




3) “No, arts is not a dying industry. I personally previously had no understanding of the arts but with all the book launches and artists that have been active in the festival, I see art alive. There is now a passion that I as a regular Festival goer have not seen in years. I feel though, that the structure of the fest should not have been changed. It’s now at Rhodes when it was previously at Church Square; the vibe of fest and the arts has since changed and not entirely positive.”
- Devon Cobus




4) “Yes it is dying; the arts are not like before. There used to be crowds of people but since the location of the fest has moved from town to Rhodes, the interest for Arts has changed.”
- Sabatha Smangwine





5) “Yes, there are fewer people interested in the arts.
No, the price of art has increased. If there was no demand, it would be cheaper.”
- St Andrews School, Grade 8



6)“Organisers are turning the arts into a flea market. We as artists are driven in different directions. God is art, art is bigger than us.”
- Andile Paswa






7)“No, art is very much alive. It cannot die, only the ideas of art die. “
-Seko Mbambeni






8) “Yes, I believe there is no formality in the industry, it’s just a haphazard thing. Connected people take initiative and exploit the less privileged who are just trying to make an honest living. Artists are struggling; local buyers feel that the market is over saturated. There are a lot of changes in Grahamstown, it is a small area for artists and there is not much activity to draw in clients.”
- Jonathan Pfumbwa


Some believe people have turned art into more than a way of sharing their skills and their creativity, but as a money-making sector, which is what is killing it.As much as art is a creative form of expression, it is still a means of financial stability and reliance. However, the price of exhibiting your work is not affordable for all artists therefore not all of them get sufficient opportunities to excell and achieve from their work. Art has to be appreciated, and people need to be given equal opprotunities to display and showcase their work, irrespective of what field or type they are in. Art is more about moulding our imaginary world into a reality, that we can share with everyone else.


By Duschanka Hitzeroth & Bhekimpilo Dungeni

Digital/ Class Divides

Digital/Class divides

The world has certainly become so advanced and digitalised, so much that existing without basic knowledge of technology and digital devices has become a yoke. Noting the importance of a digitalised world, one should take into cognisance the divide that digitalisation has brought between the different levels and realms that exist in society. We now live in a world where modern activities are distinctly contrasted to the rather more ancient ways of communication. FJP’s came together to discuss this issue, and everybody had an opinion to contribute. The ‘natives’, being those born in the digital age, had contrasting ideas to the ‘immigrants’, these being people who are new to this age of technology

WENDY NGCOBO: Poverty should be at the forefront of this topic, children or parents from rural areas cannot worry about internet or a cell phone when they don’t have food.

MEGAN STACY DEANE: It will take more that just schools getting computers and kids getting internet access to bridge the gap between the class divide, it will take time and great innovation.

NOKUTHULA WATHI: I think the focus should be on bridging the literacy gap than the digital. Being able to read and write is essential. Then they can worry about learning the technology later on.

SESETHU MALGAS: The lower class lack exposure and cannot afford these expensive digital equipments but as they get older, educated and become a working class they can get access to these technologies.

AKHONA VALASHIYA: I think before there's even introduction of digital literacy in schools. Schools need to have proper classes and digital literate teachers to bridge that gap between digital and class literature.

NOKWAZI KHUMALO: Access to the internet and technology is still a huge issue in African countries and has dramatic consequences. Non-commercial intervention is my suggestion in bridging the gap.

DUSCHANKA HITZEROTH: The PUKU project bases concern on the education crisis and to bridge the gap of literacy. However, 90% of African children are without internet access thus making it virtually impossible to mend the issue.

BUSISIWE BUSENGA: The digital age is widening the gap between the rich and poor. There is a gradual increase in the ethnic barriers, political regimes and without access rises underdeveloped economies.

THABISO SIHLALI: Worrying about moving with the new media instead of being concerned on the basics of our ailing school system won’t benefit the pleasure of new media to those who need it most.

BHEKIMPILO DUNGENI: Digitalisation has created a bigger rift between people at large, and countries stand so much apart, now that some countries have resource and others, especially African countries, do not.

The gap between the rich and the poor has increased so much that it has become difficult to close. Societies are now part of a table or a chart that has been dissected into small parts that hold dichotomous values and quality. I believe one of the solutions, which is providing education and access at to it at an early age, will certainly make a difference for everyone in the world.