Delve into Inkcubeko Nezobugcisa’s Digitalized Possibilities: Seeing Beyond The Imaginarium

Inkcubeko Nezobugcisa (isiXhosa for ‘Culture and Art’) is a registered South African NPO based in Woodstock, Cape Town. Founded in November 2019, its vision and mission is to develop and promote arts and culture, showcase creativity, and support artists as they create sustainable livelihoods. With the generous counsel of our board of directors, and in partnership with private and corporate sponsors, we aim to uplift new talent under the mentorship of experienced arts community members.

We advertise and recruit artists, hire educators, and host workshops. Additionally, we organize technical training and business development programmes, commission new artwork and performances, curate gallery exhibits, invite industry guest speakers, and liaise with the press.

We approach our work with a renewed sense of innovation and creativity that dates back to the filming of theatrical productions for our virtual theatre festival in July 2020, and has remained a constant ever since.

Our latest initiative is Digitalized Possibilities: Seeing Beyond The Imaginarium, an interdisciplinary research and digital arts programme funded with a PESP-4 grant supported by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). The programme featured an online exhibit of digital self-portraits created by aspiring arts-based women creatives. A cohort of five attended weekly sessions guided by experienced facilitators and industry mentors. The report will be available to download on our website in English and isiXhosa. We are eagerly awaiting the findings and online launch of the report as this intensive component of the programme draws to a conclusion.

The digital artworks created during the programme have already gone live and can be viewed on www.artsteps.com/view/65ae972c7029b3c9a60c83d9. By making the exhibit publicly available online, the organization is showing its willingness to continue adopting online platforms that can be easily accessed on a digital device. The online exhibit is modeled on a walk-in gallery, and is a fascinating, vibrant space, that can be enjoyed by many no matter their locale.

Additionally, we plan on touring the digital artworks to local schools, to spark creativity and possibilities in others, so that they, too, can ‘see beyond the imaginarium’.