New Education Officer at Durban Art Gallery
by Carol Brown
On the 2nd January 2007 the Durban Art Gallery welcomed a new education officer to its staff. Bongani Mkhonza grew up in Mtubatuba where he was exposed to art through the craft activities in the area. He studied at the Durban University of Technology and then went on to complete a Fine Arts Degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (PMB) where he majored in History of Art and Ceramics. Following that he attained a Post Grad Certificate in Education also from UKZN. He is currently reading for a Master's in Art Education there. Mkhonza has expressed that working with learners from diverse backgrounds has had a significant effect on the shaping of his Master's research which grew out of the new education system and the renewed hope and possibilities in the outcome-based structure.
Last year Mkhonza was chosen to represent South African culture through a SAA- and SAB sponsored trip to the United States. He travelled through the major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Miami and went down to South America visiting Mexico and Brazil. This experience has changed the way he views the world and engendered in him a greater respect for South Africa in terms of the way cultural diversity is encouraged. He feels South Africa is a constantly dynamic space embracing difference particularly through cultural activities such as food, music and art to name a few.
Mkhonza did a spell of teaching at a special school in the Durban area before joining the DAG. He has been part of KZNSA's activities through school-based projects and was recently selected to design and install a mosaic panel outside the new Mtubatuba Library.
He has stated that his personal ambitions are to increase the awareness of museum and art institutions through the development of programmes and activities that engage communities in relevant discourse. He is interested in targetting youth audiences and in installing a 'coolness' where art activities are concerned. His intention with this approach is to be able to shape and even provide options for young people's futures.
