November 29, 2006
By Lucille Davie
The City of Johannesburg plans to observe the UN International Day of Disabled Persons by organising a day of fun activities for several hundred children.
The day, on Sunday, 3 December, will be recognised at three of the City's museums: the James Hall Museum of Transport, the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), and Museum Africa.
"The purpose of hosting the disability day programme is to identify and create networking and educational platforms for people with all forms of physical and emotional disabilities and other learning challenges to share their knowledge, through debates and performances, as well as to showcase their artistic skills," says Sue Reddy, deputy director of communications and marketing in the City's arts, culture and heritage department.
The Museum Africa in Newtown
On Thursday, 30 November, a dance and theatre performance will be laid on for a number of schools. Poetry reading, drumming, ballroom, kwaito and Indian dancing, a short musical and history narration will be presented from 10am onwards at the Museum Africa.
At 1pm the children will be taken to the Johannesburg Zoo for more fun outdoor activities.
Exploring art
The JAG has opened an exhibition by Willem Boshoff, entitled
Blind Alphabets. It consists of items placed in boxes, with Braille explanations. The idea is to get a group of blind people to become "blind artists" by means of a workshop, to be held on Thursday, 30 November.
After exploring Blind Alphabets, the group will then discuss the work. This will be followed by a session of working in clay, creating a response to their experience of exploring the original piece of work. Then the group will use found objects to create their own artworks.
Boshoff's work will be on display until February 2007.
The transport museum will be hosting a group of 200 disabled children from three schools: the Philip Kushlick School in Diepsloot, Soweto, the Rewlatch School in Rewlatch, and the Walter Sisulu Child and Youth Centre in Noordgesig in Soweto.
On Sunday, 3 December the children will be taken on rides of a fire engine, a London bus, an ox wagon, and a steam wagon. Thereafter they will be given a party and presents. This takes place from 9.30am.
"The programme targets audiences who need enlightened methods to increase their self-worth, self-actualisation and cognitive skills," explains Reddy.
"The disability programme will be used to promote and ensure equal use and access to heritage resources around the City of Johannesburg, specifically the City-owned museums and galleries," says Reddy.
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