HISTORY

The Caversham Press was founded in 1985 to afford South African artists access to a professional collaborative printmaking studio for the production of traditional limited edition prints. The Press was the first comprehensive facility of its kind in Southern Africa. Since its inception, it has worked with many notable South African professional artists including William Kentridge, David Koloane, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Deborah Bell, Mmakgabo Sebidi, Robert Hodgins and Bonnie Ntshalintshal.

The Caversham Press Educational Trust , Reg. No. 9405/93 was established as a not for profit organization in 1993. This formalized Caversham’s print-based educational programme that had been in operation since 1988. Caversham Education Trust , as it has become affectionately known as over the years, has aims in with keeping with the founding ethos of Caversham i.e. to offer accessibility and skills transference and to nurture emergent artists from disadvantaged backgrounds. During this period it contributed to the skills development of more than 250 artists including many that have become recognized in their various fields such as Wonderboy Nxumalo, Ezekiel Mabote, Vulindlela Nyoni and Sarah Tabane. It now provides the formal structure through which the innovative accredited Caversham eYe (Early Years Education) teacher training programme is offered.

The Caversham Centre's founding was as a direct result of a commitment to address issues of succession and legacy building for future generations. This began in 1998 with the development of an international residency programme, the highly successful Hourglass Projects. The first of these was with 15 women artists from 5 countries and in partnership with Fulton County Arts Council (GA), USA, a partnership which continues till the present. Since then there have been 14 programmes.
Caversham Centre is a laboratory that engages the creative spirit to develop significant and complementary ways to contribute through the arts. This uses the Caversham Hourglass Process© of Reflection, Dialogue and CreACTion™ that harnesses an individual’s unique potential and that builds personal awareness and vision as a vehicle for contribution. These have led to the development of broader-based innovative programmes which extend beyond Caversham Centre.
Caversham-based residencies and community-based programmes continue to strive for excellence, cultivate leadership as a way of addressing the need for investment in the individual and in the community. This is done through local and international partnerships.

Beyond Caversham:
Community-based Caversham CreACTive™ Centres
The development of the Caversham CreACTive™ Centre Network, is a direct outcome of the Masabelaneni Residency programme. (Caversham Centre being the original CreACTive™ Centre) The establishment of these CreACTive™ Centres is based on the passion & vision of individuals. They provide places for inspiration and expression and foster collaborative, innovative attitude and creative action . They are complementary community initiatives, often linked with schools, providing centers of reflection, renewal and refuge for our youth and women.

In 2002, with Gabi Nkosi joining the Caversham family, Ulwazi(meaning Knowledge in isiZulu) CreACTive™ Centre was started at Jabula Combined School in the local Caversham community of Lidgetton. During 2006/07 2 exciting new CreACTive™ Centres have been established in Mtubatuba and Rorke's Drift.

Residency Overview
Caversham-based Fellowships include:

• Creative Cultural Dialogues -local and international Artists & Writers
• Masabelaneni - Legacy Leadership & Vision-sharing, resulting in the establishment and growth of CreACTive™ Centres
• Specialist - Skills transference and Mentoring
• Creative Inspiration - exploring where and how creativity can make a difference beyond the Arts
• Internship - experience-based capacity building

CreACTive™Centre Workshop Programmes focus on:

• Personal Development - using skills transference and mentoring to nurture the unique and leadership potential of young people and dealing with social issues including HIV/Aids
• Skills Development which include visual arts and craft, poetry, storytelling, performance and dance
• eYe Teacher Development - accredited creative and art-based eYe - early childhood teacher training