Honorary doctorates for two renowned South Africans
by Irene Botes for Artslink
Two distinguished South Africans, Joan Brickhill, a leading pioneer in the field of musical theatre and Robert Hodgins, a foremost fine artist, will receive honorary doctorates from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) at a graduation ceremony on September 8.
Brickhill, aged 80, will receive the D Tech (Musical Theatre) Honoris Causa in recognition of her role in laying the foundation for formal degrees being offered in musical theatre. Brickhill has been a teacher of the performing arts, formally and informally, for 65 years. She taught many present-day leaders their craft in the musical theatre industry (working in South Africa and abroad) or introduced them to it. Many acknowledge her as their greatest teacher.
Robert Hodgins, warmly and broadly considered by many as one of the best living painters in South Africa, is 86. Amongst other achievements in the art world, he was a founder member of the Art School of the Pretoria Technical College, established in 1954. The School was the predecessor of the present-day Department of Fine and Applied Arts at Tshwane University of Technology. Hodgins will receive the D Tech (Fine Arts) Honoris Causa in recognition of his contribution to the development of fine arts at the Faculty of Arts, at TUT, and in South Africa, as a whole.
