Lennie Gouws says that the greatest challenge was the scope of the material she had to sort through. “Sometimes gathering information feels to me like collecting a bowl full of small beads that have to be sorted according to colour. Although modern technology makes it easier, it is still an enormous task.”

​ Frans Lion-Cachet

There’s gold

behind the curtain

A comprehensive and intriguing book on the history of NWU-PUK Arts, the arts division of the Potchefstroom Campus, will be released in 2016.

 

NWU & U chatted with the author, Lennie Gouws and members of staff who contributed, about the inestimable value of the book: PUK Kunste – die geheim agter die gordyn (PUK Arts – the secret behind the curtain).

 

“Give the youth a platform to showcase their talents and they will show you what they are capable of.”

 

The truth in these words of wisdom, spoken by Horst Bütow – former director of the NWU-PUK Arts – has been proven time and time again through the outstanding productions, exhibitions and shows staged over the years under the auspices of NWU-PUK Arts.

 

It’s a rich history that includes a variety of art forms. NWU-PUK Arts is the guardian of various arts societies such as that of the campus choir and symphony orchestra, Thalia, Divaco and the Serenaders. As organisers of various activities, including the Pukkie Talent festival and Varieté, PUK Arts annually creates platforms for young up-and-coming talent.

 

NWU-PUK Arts includes the Artéma Institute for Art Management and Administration, the art galleries on the campus, Alabama Production House and the recording studio in the Heimat building. The laboratories of NWU-PUK Arts also form part of these platforms and include the Sanlam Auditorium, Heimat Hall, Cachet Little Theatre and the Totius Hall.

 

Over the years, some big names in the entertainment industry added sparkle to arts at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and, later, the NWU.)

 

Among the big names are Johan van Rensburg, Rina Hugo, Christa Steyn, Karin Hougaard, Anna Davel, Erica Eloff, André Howard, Kobie van Rensburg, Jacques Imbrailo and Rudolf de Beer, whose stories are also contained in this book.

 

The NWU-PUK Choir's impressive scrapbook was one of the valuable sources Lennie consulted while doing her research. This book is 80cm x 45cm in size and 18cm thick. Awie van Wyk had it made when he became choir director in 1976 and it was kept updated until 2003, when a new book was started.​ Lennie GouwsTome tells tale of art

 

Lennie Gouws, author of the book, says that Prof Rikus Fick, dean of students on the Potchefstroom Campus, requested that she write the book. Originally, the 581-page book was meant to be about the establishment and growth of the Culture Office, founded by Horst in 1980, which evolved into NWU-PUK Arts.

 

“But Horst and the Culture Office were involved with so many activities on campus that the book became much bulkier.”

 

A treasure trove of information

 

Lennie says that all NWU-PUK Arts staff, especially Horst, Peet Ryke, Chris de Bruyn and Pieter de Bruin, put a lot of effort into helping with information for the book.

 

Collecting the data was like a treasure hunt and the greatest treasure troves were to be found at the PUK-Arts archive, including the Alabama archive. More research was conducted at the NWU Archive, where staff also went out of their way to help.

 

Priceless legacy

 

Jaco van der Walt, director of NWU-PUK Arts, aptly sums it up when he says that the value of a book like this cannot be measured in monetary terms.

 

“It is pure inspiration – holding the wealth that is the university's arts, beginning in the 1940s, in your hands.”

 

 

“A good past predicts a good future,” says Jaco van der Walt, current director of NWU-PUK Arts (right). With him are Peet Ryke, manager for arts, and Horst Bütow, former director of PUK Arts.