Barloworld Artworks Mentor of the Year - Business Day BASA Awards 4th June 2007

BASA

The 2007 Business Day/BASA Awards to companies making innovative and effective use of arts sponsorship across a number of categories were presented on 4 June at the newly refurbished Alexander Theatre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, marking the 10th anniversary of Business and the Arts South Africa (BASA). BASA is a PPP with the National Department of Arts & Recreation, established to create synergies between business and the arts. At the Awards Pieter Dirk Uys’ alter ego, Evita Bezuidenhout, gave an audacious keynote address loaded with cultural chutzpah to the enthusiasm of all present. The awards were presented by Mrs Zanele Mbeki.

PPC carried off the award for long-term development to a company which has significantly developed commitment to a project over a period for its support for the Owl House Foundation and Smuts Cottage.

Nominees for this second Barloworld Artworks Mentor of the Year Award were Gail Lemmert, Barloworld for National Children’s Theatre Trust; Pamela Grayman, Grant Thornton for Ballet Theatre Afrikan; Amanda Roche, Nedbank for The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra; Irma Albers, Distell for from the hip:Khulumakahle and Gary Ninow, Businessclinic for The Umcebo Trust.

“Mentors guide artists in the nitty-gritty business world” by Robin Opperman - Business Day, Tuesday, June 5th 2007

TWO years ago Barloworld, one of BASA’s long-standing corporate members, partnered with BASA to establish Barloworld ARTWORKS, a mentoring programme designed to introduce better business skills to the arts sector. The programme matches volunteer businessmen with artists in a skills mentorship relationship, helping artists to manage their talents in a manner that will benefit them commercially and allows companies to integrate, a new element into existing volunteer programmes, says Diana Williams, Barloworld ARTWORKS project manager.

“Mentors are asked to commit to a year-long relationship and to give up at least two hours a month of their time to mentor.” The programme is mutually beneficial for mentors and protégés alike, says Williams. “While it gives the arts organisation a new perspective on its operations the mentor also acquires a new perspective, entering a world characterised by hard work and lack of funds, but no lack of creativity and energy.” Williams says the benefits of mentoring can filter down throughout an organisation. “Barloworld’s continuing support, along with BASA’s vision, has firmly established the effectiveness of a business management mentoring programme in the arts.

Joint winner of the 2007 Barloworld Artworks Mentor of the Year Award, Pamela Grayman, national marketing principal of Grant Thornton, is mentoring Ballet Theatre Afrikan. She says mentoring is not so much a bout implementation as it is about learning and reflection.

“You’re not there to convert them or tell them to do as you say. It’s a collaborative process.”

A former professional ballet dancer, Grayman says she has enjoyed the experience. “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to watch people grow and become more professional, and to see them expand their thinking and audiences.”

Joint winner of the 2007 Barloworld Artworks Mentor of the Year Award, Irma Albers, arts and culture controller of Distell, mentors a young theatre company in Woodstock, Cape Town, with both deaf and hearing members, called ”from the hip: khulumakahle. “They needed help in raising the profile of the company and getting funders on board. As their needs change we have made the necessary adjustments. I have been mentoring them for just under a year and will continue to do so until such time as we feel the relationship should end.” Albers was so inspired by the people she mentors that she has committed herself to learning sign language as soon as their next programme starts. “They’ve opened my eyes and the eyes of the community to be more tolerant of each other.”

Valmount Layne, director of District Six Museum in Cape Town, says he has benefited from the expertise of his mentor, Carlton Hood.

“It’s been an incredibly helpful experience for me, I didn’t know what to expect at the beginning, except that I needed some advice on certain things and this was a way to get access to somebody who had that kind of knowledge base. The experience has taught me the importance of having an intelligent outside perspective. Although we knew our mission, vision and strategy, we overlooked some basic assumptions. Carlton helped us to identify these more clearly.”

Gary Ninow from the Business Clinic mentors Robin Opperman, director of Durban-based Umcebo Trust, an arts and crafts workshop. A former teacher, Opperman says he lacked financial and business knowledge.

“Gary gives advice in a way that doesn’t make you feel foolish; he doesn&6 August, 2007s me down from the ledge. He shares his experiences, helping me realise that what I am experiencing is not unusual, that I’m not incompetent and that this is part and parcel of working in the business world. We’re grooming one of our crafters to become workshop manager. As I learn from Gary, I share my experiences with him.”

If you are interested in becoming a mentor to an arts organisation, contact Diana Williams, Barloworld Artworks Coordinator on cell 073 305 9031 or e-mail artworks@basa.co.za for more information. The mentorship programme is country-wide.

Jennifer Smith
Head: CSI
Barloworld Limited
Tel +27 11 445 1268
Fax +27 11 445 1581
Cell 082 808 5911

This page was updated on 3 August, 2007

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