Some of the masterpieces that are available on the app include the works of Cecil Skotness, Bettie Cilliers-Barnard and George Pemba.

A new app from the NWU Gallery and MTN Foundation gives young artists the opportunity to discover and develop their artistic prowess. The online colouring application, #LearnArt – for kids, may be just the right tool to motivate a new generation of technology users to become artists extraordinaire.

#LearnArt – for kids is one of the initiatives in the successful partnership between the NWU and the MTN Foundation, which sponsors the NWU Gallery’s acclaimed arts programme.

This partnership has already resulted in a nomination for the prestigious Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) Developmental Award.

Youngsters give new colour to masterpieces

The exciting online colouring application offers children the opportunity to colour in replicas of artworks that are part of the respective collections of the NWU Gallery and MTN Foundation. They can use their creativity to give fresh colour to classic work of art by the likes of Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, George Pemba, Irma Stern, Justin Dingwall and Maureen Quin, among others.

The app was launched in September at the FNB Joburg Art Fair 2017, marking the first time that the art collections of the NWU and MTN have been taken online. The app is freely available online and can be accessed from any device. The NWU and MTN will use it for educational programmes such as the 2017 Art Safari for Kids which was also part of the recent Aardklop Art Festival in Potchefstroom.

Focus is on education and upliftment

Like the NWU Gallery, the MTN Foundation is a non-profit entity. Together they focus on educational and upliftment projects that can bring about meaningful, measurable and sustainable change that will help disadvantaged and rural communities to become self-reliant.

“We’ve been using social media as our core channel to connect with our audiences and to expand our reach as a university gallery, as well as of our art collection. I am excited to see a new version of our educational programme being released online, aimed at developing the audience of the future through technology and social media,” says Christina Naurattel, chief curator of the NWU Gallery.

Niel Nortjé, manager of the MTN Art Collection, says the MTN Foundation’s Art Collection partnership with the NWU Gallery has been a most beneficial enterprise since 2016. “It has not only developed provenance and new audiences for both collections but also enables participation in an internationally recognised arena such as the Joburg Art Fair.”

He says the creation and launch of the exciting platform for arts and culture interaction also aligns with the MTN Foundation’s strategic objective towards educational development.

NWU launches

exciting app for young artists