RASA – ART CONNECTS
Beauty, art, artists and children, a disarming experience.
RASA is a South African NPO that brings creative energy and high quality art education to children from under privileged backgrounds. Together with artists and children RASA weave story lines in visual art, dancing, singing and story telling. Yearly we organize more than 100 activities in our art classes, we organize field trips to exhibitions and performances. RASA inspires and connects parents, local artists and partners in the rural community of the Riebeek Valley in the Western Cape.
RASA stands for artistic quality and for an inclusive and gentle approach in which every voice is heard.
Non-profit RASA has a Belgian background and has pioneered art-education over the past three decades. Collaborating with leading artists, art museums and cultural locations in Europe, RASA has curated for a young public specifically. In 2021 RASA found a new home on the slopes of the Kasteelberg in Riebeek West. Drawing on her experience, founding Mother Gerd Dierckx and a group of artists and enthusiastic volunteers initiate diverse weekly artistic and lasting activities for children to create joy and stimulate social change.
— RASA BELIEVES —
Art touches the essence of humanity. Art is never indifferent. An encounter with art can only be through dialogue, because art does not coerce. Art does not tell you what to do, only how you might go about it. Art provokes questions and offers reflections – of yourself, the other, the world. Art has the power to heal, transform and connect people. The earlier in our development we receive these values, the stronger they take root within our existence.
Rasa OFFERS:
❥ ART CLASSES
Aged 9-12
From a fresh, stimulating and well-equipped Art Room at Riebeek West Primary School, RASA artists gently share creative skills and techniques with the children. Weekly creative workshops start with music and meditation and a talking stick exchange followed by practical art activities.
❥ CHOIR
Aged 13-18
Singing in a choir is a collective action for positive change. This community choir of teenagers is led by the talented and experienced Ilse Blaauw, accompanied by local village musicians. They are working on a polyphonic repertory of African and English songs.
❥ STORYTIME
Aged 6-9
A magical journey into stories, poems and illustrations. Slowly our littlest creative minds are introduced to best stories, poems and pictures. Eyes wide, the enraptured children are encouraged to explore the wonder of their inner worlds to begin a creative journey.
❥ PLAYTIME
Aged 6-9
An engaging I of fun and learning with educational toys from LEGO and Fischer Price to enhance motor skills and creativity of our younger ones.
❥ dance Collaborations
Yearly, the well-established JazzArt Dance Company of Cape Town and RASA collaborate to bring the art of dance to our young creatives. Six professional dancers work with our children to create an exciting choreographic experience.
❥ eXHIBITIONS
Introducing children to galleries and other cultural sites is integral to the RASA process. Visiting the Norval Foundation and Artscape and our own exhibitions such as BREATH BREEZE & WINGED THINGS are highlights of our teaching year.
Visit our News page to see Rasa in action
⤖ NEWS
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
❥ ART BOXES
Art Boxes are educational suitcases for teachers and students. Each case contains a workbook detailing the approach, a picture game and a set of philosophical questions, together with some objects related to the theme.
⤖ Art boxes
❥ LIBRARY
RASA has a fine library of children’s and art books. Writers and poets from South Africa and abroad are invited to come and work together around their children’s books.
❥ PUBLICATIONS
EYES FOR ART BY GERD DIERCKX This book offers inspiration to anyone who wants to embark on the adventure of experiencing art with children. EYES FOR ART reveals the specific working method of Rasa, gives children a voice and invites us to approach art differently. EYES FOR ART is available for R250 with the proceeds going 100% to the project.