Dargle (Photo: Craig Ebersohn)
Howick, the gateway town to the iconic Midlands Meander, the premier arts and craft route in SA, is preparing a bid to become SA’s first Unesco City of Craft and Folk Art. The Unesco Creative Cities Network is a sought after designation for progressive cities from around the world. Cities can apply to become Creative Cities in the following creative spheres: Literature, Film, Music, Gastronomy, Craft & Folk Art, Design and Media Arts.
Some of the world’s greatest cities belong to this network. Aswan and Cairo in Egypt, Jaipur and Santa Fe are Unesco Cities of Craft; Bergen, Tucson, Alba and Hyderabad are Unesco Cities of Gastronomy; Galway, Cannes, Rome, Sarajevo, Sydney and Mumbai are Unesco Cities of Film; Liverpool, Glasgow, Ghent, Chennai and Havana are Unesco Cities of Music and Dublin, Edinburgh, Prague, Melbourne and Gothenburg are Unesco Cities of Literature.
Currently SA has three Unesco Creative Cities. Cape Town is a Unesco City of Design (2017); Durban the Unesco City of Literature (2017) and Greater Hermanus the Unesco City of Gastronomy (2019). Howick’s bid to become SA’s first Unesco City of Craft was the brainchild of Darryl Earl David, former Head of Afrikaans at UKZN and founder of the Midlands Literary Festival, who led the successful bids for Durban and Hermanus. He is being enthusiastically supported by Mayor Chris Pappas and his capable and highly efficient team at Umngeni Municipality, the Midlands Meander, Umngeni Tourism and the artists and crafters of greater Umngeni Howick.
According to a very excited Ayanda Makhaye, Manager of Local Economic Development from Umngeni Municipality :
“Unlocking the artistic heritage of Howick and embracing its vibrant craft and folk-art scene is not only a cultural endeavour but an economic opportunity. Let us join hands and strive towards making Howick a UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Art, where creativity thrives, traditions flourish, and prosperity blossoms for all.”
Some of the major goals of the UCCN are amongst others:
- strengthen international cooperation between cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of their sustainable development;
- stimulate and enhance initiatives led by member cities to make creativity an essential component of urban development, notably through partnerships involving the public and private sectors and civil society;
- strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services;
- develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector;
- improve access to and participation in cultural life as well as the enjoyment of cultural goods and services, notably for marginalized or vulnerable groups and individuals;
- fully integrate culture and creativity into local development strategies and plans.
Quilters of the Midlands Meander (Photo: Darryl David)
If successful, the bid will not be limited to Howick but will be spread around the entire Umngeni Municipality which effectively covers the core of the Midlands Meander: Hilton, Mphophemeni, Howick, stretching all the way to Nottingham Road, including the hamlets of Curry’s Post, Caversham, Lidgetton, Lions River, Fort Nottingham, Dargle and Balgowan.
Folk art? Gotta love us! (Photo: Darryl David)
So why Howick?
Quite simply. The Midlands Meander. That beautiful madness created by a group of artists to make this idyllic region home to some of country’s top artists and crafters. According to Marian Evans of the Midlands Meander: “Things began on a summer’s evening at Caversham Mill in 1985, when Helen and Andy Shuttleworth, who were weavers; Robin and Joy Standing, potters; Ian Glenny and Kali Griffin, potters; Wim, a painter and Tina de Roubaix, a batik artist; Leonie Malherbe and Lindsay Scott, potters and David and Michelle Walters, also potters, met to discuss how to work together and to market their work jointly. They decided to invite the public to visit artists in their countryside studios twice a year at Rolling Exhibitions. The idea of the Meander grew and member numbers grew. Thirty-eight years on, the Meander is known worldwide for its superb handcrafted goods and fine arts.”
Shuttleworth weavers (Photo: Izak de Vries)
So what does greater Howick have (over and above the Midlands Meander) that makes it a prime candidate for a Unesco City of Craft and Folk Art
- Zoom Town. That beautiful madness created by Jono Hornby and Jaqui Hiltermann, with more than a little help from their friends. Next to the Midlands Meander this project has been the greatest regeneration project for Hilton and the Meander for the past 35 years. Drive through the main road of Hilton and you will see the power of art to transform. Created by two individuals with nothing more than a vision and dogged determination. And heaps of artistic talent. We envision the Zoom Town project as being seminal to our ambition of becoming the Craft Capital of SA.
- Hilton Arts Festival. Yes, it is best known for theatre and dance. But the Hilton Arts Festival has a major arts and crafts programme, attracting in excess of 150 crafters from around the country.
For all that the Midlands Meander has achieved, oddly enough, it cannot boast a festival in its name. With this bid we hope to correct this with our third project. And a signature project at that:
- The Midlands Meander Craft Indaba. Think Design Indaba. But in this case, a festival drawing crafters from all around the country. If you are going to be known as a craft capital, then you must be prepared to walk the talk. If as the Midlands Meander we are known as the leading arts and craft route in SA, then we must lead. This project has the potential to fill out guesthouses on the Meander.
- Branding Lidgetton as a Craft Town. I know, I know. Everyone thinks I’m mad. They thought the same when I created a Book Town in the Karoo, didn’t they. But hear me out. Lidgetton is home to Ardmore, one of the greatest success stories in the Midlands. And home to one of the most iconic artists of the Midlands Meander, the late Bonnie Ntshalintshali. Just down the road from Ardmore is the home of the Lions River Crafters Guild. Thirdly, the Goodwin Foundry in Lidgetton is home to six ceramicists whose work is sold all over the world. Then right on the R103 that leads to that dirt road to Ardmore is The Junction. The Junction is home to some of the finest collection of sculptures in SA. And the last time I checked, Lindsay Scott, that renowned ceramicist of Hillfold Pottery, one of the founding members of the Midlands Meander, can be found at the end of a country lane in Lidgetton.
- And then we’ll save the best for last. Have you seen that magnificent tree lined entrance to a property marked SAPPI as you are about to join the R103. I have asked Mayor Chris Pappas to use his considerable charm and sterling reputation to persuade SAPPI to partner with Umngeni Howick to create a PAPER MUSEUM. I realise it is an expensive project. But SA does not have a paper museum. This will truly be a legacy project for the KZN Midlands.
- Unesco also requires one cross-cutting project in the bid. That means it must have nothing to do with Craft and Folk Art. For a region such as ours, with a brand as strong as the Midlands, a Midlands Food Festival is a must. This region may not have the vineyards of the Cape, but we have some great restaurants : Rawdons, Granny Mouse, Jackie Cameron’s School of Food and Wine is now open to the public, Old Halliwell, Hartford House, La Lampara, The Snooty Fox at Fernhill, the ever popular Bierfassl and Nottingham Road Hotel and Yellowwood Restaurant in Howick, the restaurant with the most breath taking views of the Howick Falls. But the hidden valley as far as fine dining goes is on Curry’s Post Road. And don’t get me talking about Brahman Hills in Nottingham Road. Wow, where did they come from? Magical. If I was a bull going on a first date, I would want to dine out on those lawns.
Lidgetton Valley (Photo: Leon van der Merwe)
These are just some of the highlights we have as part of our 5-year plan. There are other allied festivals already in existence. Art in the Country. The Human Rights Day Mpophomeni Craft Festival. The Midlands Meanders Emerging Artist project. And the Royal Show with its extensive arts and crafts exhibitions should move to Hilton from 2024.
Nottingham Road (Photo: Izak de Vries)
Wish us well. At this juncture in our country’s history, we need some good news. We believe the designation of Unesco City of Craft and Folk Art for Umngeni Howick is just what the doctor ordered.
However the final word must go to Mayor Chris Pappas who has some inspirational words for the citizens of Umngeni Municipality as we embark on this exciting journey:
“Embrace the heritage that weaves our community together, for within the threads of craft and folk art lies the tapestry of our unique identity. Let us strive to make Howick a shining beacon, a UNESCO city of craft and folk art, where creativity thrives and economic prosperity flourishes. Together, we can unlock the boundless potential of our artisans, preserve our cultural legacy, and craft a future filled with inspiration and opportunity for all.”
See also:
Press release: View the programme of the Midlands Literary Festival