Miriam Makeba Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre
The University of Fort Hare established the Miriam Makeba Centre of Performing Arts about 2003, during the era of the erstwhile Vice chancellor – Professor Mbulelo Vizikhungo Mzamane. Later in 2006 the Centre was relaunched as a partnership project between the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC). Both the University of Fort Hare’s Department of Music and the ECAVC are located at the Miriam Makeba Centre of Performing Arts at the East London campus. The ECAVC, located at the Miriam Makeba Centre of Performing Arts is a joint project of the UFH and EC- DSRAC. It was commissioned and launched on 1 September 2006 by the then Minister of Arts and Culture – Zweledinga Pallo Jordan, the Premier of the Eastern Cape Province – Nosimo Balindlela and the then Vice Chancellor of the then University of Fort Hare – Professor Derrick Swartz.
The Centre boasts one of the most advanced recording infra structures in the country and is unique in offering and providing high quality academic music programmes and multimedia production services to the academic, corporate and arts and culture stakeholders in the province of the Eastern Cape. With its state of the art pre and post multimedia production facilities, the Centre is well positioned to develop, produce, record and market the rich artistic talent of the province to arts and culture consumers through music, film (videography) photography. Its main focus is to develop and empower EC artists in the creative sector in AUDIO and VISUAL areas and therefore, specialises in music and film.
Vision
The Miriam Makeba Centre of Performing Arts / ECAVC is a Centre of excellence for attracting, discovering and nurturing the best talent in the field of Creative Arts, in particular music and film.
Mission
The ECAVC offers a One-Stop-Shop in Music, Film and Photography and Education and Training. In pursuit of its vision and mission the Centre will offer services and programs in the various spheres of its competence as follows:
- Music Record Label for distribution, promotion and artist management of signed ECAVC artists
- Home of Artists focused on development programs for artists and students
- Film and Photography with specialisation on documentaries, photography and music videos
- Education offering an undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs as currently offered in the UFH Department of Music; a number of other education programs are suggested to be offered such as: a Diploma in Music, Certificate in Music and short courses in Music, Film and Photography
- Training through experiential learning programs; sponsored Internship programs; workshops, master classes, music business, technical training for artists and students will be on offer.
Values and Principles
The Miriam Makeba Centre / ECAVC shall be guided by overarching values of the university, of integrity, excellence, ethics, innovation and additional principles of tolerance for diversity, respect for different cultures, promotion of indigenous culture, inclusivity and gender equality.
Services
a) Attracting the best talent, leading practitioners and scholars in the creative arts
b) Offering cutting edge solutions in the development and presentation of artistic expressions
c) Offering innovative teaching methods and training solutions for the creative arts
d) Redefining new platforms and formats for the production, presentation and distribution of music
e) Provide opportunities and platform for talent wishing to enter and excel in the creative arts
f) Producing and presenting concept concerts and events for audience development
g) Becoming a viable one stop audio-visual recording and production facility that
embraces film, audio/video production, graphics and photography.
h) Facilitate creation of economic opportunities for the beneficiaries of the project.
i) Facilitate the production, marketing, distribution, and sales of programs, packages and media products.
j) Develop capacity for creation of in-house productions.
k) Support academic programs; archiving and documentation of different music genres such
as Jazz, Choral, Indigenous music and Visual arts.
l) Promote cultural diversity and gender representability.