ImaginingOtherwise: Transforming Spaces through Arts Education
ImaginingOtherwise: Transforming Spaces through Arts Education was a Phase 2 Large Grant project in South Africa.
Imagining Otherwise is a cross disciplinary collaboration grounded in performance, activism and youth-led social change. The co-creator collective of young people located in Cape Town’s Cape Flats seeks to establish a sense of place beyond systemic identification of place with gangs, drugs and violence. We aim to challenge youth disempowerment related to lack of resources as consequence of systematic erasure and forgetting.
The project partners, Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education and Bottomup deliver arts-based activism and education, with an explicit focus on young people’s participation in the community and a mentorship programme. The partners build capacity through intensive workshops with local artists: performance, storyboards and graphic novel. The cross-arts collaborative storying of experiences and dissemination enables a wide audience to engage with what young people identify in their communities for developing resilience. Drawing on the team's collective experience in working with marginalised young people and the arts as method for critical engagement in public life, we approach the context of violence and exclusion through participatory arts.
We ask:
- How do young people make sense of race and spatial inequalities in Cape Town?
- What role does the generative potential of the arts have in ‘hope’?
- When we create and make the world, can that assist in redressing the psycho-social effects of poverty, unemployment and rampant violence in educational and activist alternatives?
- How do dialogic creative arts generate a theory and practice of social change by, with and for marginalised young people?
In order to address these questions, we are working with several aims:
- to map and analyse spatial inequalities of community engagement and resources in the Cape Flats
- to establish a programme of youth engagement through creative arts education
- through such engagement, to generate alternative youth imaginaries and practices
This short video highlights our final sharing and reflections from participants and facilitators. More information and videos from participants is available on the ImaginingOtherwise project page here.
Project location
Resource Archive
Search or browse the resource archive for films, reports, toolkits and other resources produced by the Changing the Story and its commissioned projects. Items relating to South Africa are listed below:
Title | Summary | Author | Categories | Tags | doc_categories_hfilter | doc_tags_hfilter |
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Arts Activism Toolkit | The final #ImaginingOtherwise project is an Arts Activism toolkit. This toolkit intentionally brings together case studies of innovative arts activism practice from the global South, activities to develop one’s own … | Alexandra Sutherland, Dr Aylwyn Walsh, Prof Paul Routledge | Phase 2, South Africa | format: toolkit, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, SDG 16 Institutions | phase2 south-africa location | toolkit language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions |
Thyspunt: Khoisan Heritage | Blog (2020/03/30) Thyspunt: Khoisan Heritage | Phase 2, South Africa, Young Changemakers | format: blog, language: english, subject: reflections | phase2 south-africa changemakers location | blog language-english subject-reflections | |
Policy Brief: The Emerging Moringa Economy | The Emerging Moringa Economy: A ground-breaking opportunity to boost rural green economies and youth employment in South Africa (2022) Policy brief from Follow-on Fund project, Transnational and Intergenerational Exploration of … | Phase 3, South Africa | language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 13 Climate, SDG 3 Health and Well-being, SDG 8 Work, subject: policy | phase3 south-africa location | language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-13-climate sdg-3-health-and-well-being sdg-8-work subject-policy | |
Getting a picture of the Cape Flats and the ImaginingOtherwise Youth Arts Festival | Blog (2020/04/08) Getting a picture of the Cape Flats and the ImaginingOtherwise Youth Arts Festival | Alexandra Sutherland, Ashley Visagie, Dr Aylwyn Walsh | Event, Phase 2, South Africa | format: blog, language: english, subject: covid19, subject: reflections | event phase2 south-africa location | blog language-english subject-covid19 subject-reflections |
Permanent crisis of visibility: Young working-class Capetonians | Engage Journal 45: Class and Inequality explores issues of class, socio-economic disadvantage and inequality in relation to gallery education and engagement programmes and the related sector. Read Permanent crisis of … | Ashley Visagie, Dr Aylwyn Walsh, Helene Rousseau | Phase 2, South Africa | format: article, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 4 Education | phase2 south-africa location | article language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-4-education |
The Allegory of the Fence | Blog (2019/10/31) The Allegory of the Fence | Prudence Nkomo | Phase 2, South Africa, Young Changemakers | format: blog, language: english, subject: youth | phase2 south-africa changemakers location | blog language-english youth |
Where’s the Research in Evaluation? | Blog (2018/10/31) Where’s the Research in Evaluation? | Prof Stuart Taberner | Phase 1, South Africa | format: blog, language: english, subject: reflections | phase1 south-africa location | blog language-english subject-reflections |
Women in Arms | This short film was created by the team at Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba to highlight the crucial role that women are playing in claiming space, dreaming new futures, and implementing militant … | Event, South Africa | format: film, language: english, subject: gender | event south-africa location | film language-english gender | |
Reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa) | Suggest shares his reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa). | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, subject: reflections | phase2 south-africa location | film language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities subject-reflections | |
Meet Jayden | Meet Jayden, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Cape Town, South Africa. | South Africa, Young Changemakers, Youth Research Board | format: film, language: spanish | south-africa changemakers youth-research-board location | film language-spanish | |
Transrational Communication through Participatory Arts | Hear from Prof Paul Cooke and Dr Lou Harvey in conversation with Luke McFarline on their paper 'Transrational Communication through Participatory Arts with South African Youth. | Dr Lou Harvey, Luke McFarline, Prof Paul Cooke | South Africa | format: audio, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 16 Institutions, SDG 4 Education, subject: participatory arts | south-africa location | audio language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts |
Reflections from The Performance and Conflict Conference | Blog (2018/11/14) Reflections from The Performance and Conflict Conference | Event, Phase 2, South Africa | format: blog, language: english | event phase2 south-africa location | blog language-english | |
Mobilising Histories of Discrimination, Persecution and Genocide | The ‘Mobilising Histories’ conference, held at the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, brought together two projects funded by the UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) which ask how arts-based interventions … | Event, Phase 1, South Africa | format: film, language: english | event phase1 south-africa location | film language-english | |
Issie Christoffels | Issie Christoffels loves the people of the Karoo. She remembers a hard youth, with very few opportunities: very few things to do, very little positive going on… Today she is … | Issie Christoffels | Event, South Africa | format: film, language: english, subject: gender | event south-africa location | film language-english gender |
ImaginingOtherwise: A Glossary of Arts Education Practice on the Cape Flats | In this collaborative text, ImaginingOtherwise draw out the key social justice concerns faced by young people in South Africa, setting them against the learning from the arts-based project. Moving beyond … | Phase 2, South Africa | language: english | phase2 south-africa location | language-english | |
ImaginingOtherwise Conversation Series | The #ImaginingOtherwise team hosted a series of webinars, or international conversations, about the value of co-creation and participation. Catch-up on all the episodes at your leisure. | Alexandra Sutherland, Daniel Maposa, Ishtar Lakhani, Sarah Summers | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, language: english | phase2 south-africa location | film language-english |
The messiness of building community: Co-creation across lines of social difference | Blog (2020/01/08) The messiness of building community: Co-creation across lines of social difference | Dr Aylwyn Walsh, Dr Scott Burnett | Phase 2, South Africa | format: blog, language: english, subject: reflections | phase2 south-africa location | blog language-english subject-reflections |
Annie Arries | Annie Arries is a primary school teacher who loves the Karoo and says she will never leave. She says here, children can still grow up as children. Her hope for … | Annie Arries | Event, South Africa | format: film, language: english, subject: gender | event south-africa location | film language-english gender |
New Project: Developing Youth Leadership for More Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Post-Conflict Countries | blog (2019/10/29) New Project: Developing Youth Leadership for More Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Post-Conflict Countries | Lauren Wray | Kenya, Namibia, Phase 1, Rwanda, South Africa | format: blog, language: english, subject: youth | kenya namibia phase1 rwanda south-africa location | blog language-english youth |
BST Youth Leadership Programme v1.2 1 | This document provides guidance on the implementation of the Bishop Simeon Trust’s (BST) youth leadership programme, developed in partnership with the University of Leeds and our South African partners since … | South Africa | language: english, SDG 16 Institutions, SDG 17 Partnerships, SDG 4 Education, subject: leadership, subject: youth | south-africa location | language-english sdg-16-institutions sdg-17-partnerships sdg-4-education leadership youth | |
Reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa) | Iris shares her reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa). | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, subject: reflections | phase2 south-africa location | film language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities subject-reflections | |
Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba Film Takeover | Blog (2020/03/19) Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba Film Takeover | Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba | Event, Phase 2, South Africa, Young Changemakers | event phase2 south-africa changemakers location | ||
Reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa) | Sindisiwe shares her reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa). | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, language: english, subject: reflections | phase2 south-africa location | film language-english subject-reflections | |
The Change Makers – South Africa | Blog (2018/03/29) The Change Makers – South Africa | Prof Chaya Herman, Prof Stuart Taberner, Tali Nates | Phase 1, South Africa | format: blog, language: english | phase1 south-africa location | blog language-english |
ImaginingOtherwise Youth Arts Toolkit | The Youth Arts Toolkit is a collection of workshops (some online, some in person) that were developed over the year of the Imagining Otherwise project. This resource is for anyone … | Phase 2, South Africa | format: toolkit, subject: youth | phase2 south-africa location | toolkit youth | |
Journey of Self Discovery, Taahirah Hoosain | Skill Exchange workshops to develop skills that would be useful to young change-makers, March - April 2022 | Taahirah Hoosain | Event, South Africa, Young Changemakers | format: film, language: english, subject: wellbeing, subject: youth | event south-africa changemakers location | film language-english subject-wellbeing youth |
Change from the BottomUp: How participation & creative methods are needed to challenge school context in South Africa | Blog (2020/04/20) Change from the BottomUp: How participation & creative methods are needed to challenge school context in South Africa | Ashley Visagie, Dr Aylwyn Walsh | Phase 2, South Africa | format: blog, language: english, subject: participatory arts, subject: reflections | phase2 south-africa location | blog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections |
Mobilising Histories: Reflections | Blog (2018/08/16) Mobilising Histories: Reflections | Phase 1, South Africa, Young Changemakers | format: blog, language: english, subject: reflections | phase1 south-africa changemakers location | blog language-english subject-reflections | |
WPS2 FINAL Mobilising the Past | "Mobilising the Past to Support Human Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals" This literature review, authored by Emma Parker (University of Leeds) has been compiled as part of the … | Emma Parker | South Africa | language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, SDG 16 Institutions | south-africa location | language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions |
Mrs A. Jaftha from Ryneveldt Primary | Mrs Jaftha was brought up in a strict home, to value the things they had, even the things they got for free. She remembers her childhood as a time of … | Mrs A. Jaftha | Event, South Africa | format: film, language: english, subject: gender | event south-africa location | film language-english gender |
Digital Storytelling in ImaginingOtherwise (film three) | ImaginingOtherwise young people explore Cape Town, introducing their understanding of space and the creative use of film-making to represent people, communities and lives from the perspective of creative makers. Supported … | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, format: toolkit, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, SDG 16 Institutions | phase2 south-africa location | film toolkit language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions | |
Reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa) | Accurate shares her reflections on the Phase Two Mapping Community Heritage project (South Africa). | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, subject: reflections | phase2 south-africa location | film language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities subject-reflections | |
Malume uya Lumana | [Duration 12 min 52 secs] | Malume uya Lumana | Event, South Africa | format: film, language: english | event south-africa location | film language-english |
Mapping Community Heritage Case Study | Mapping Community Heritage is a research project led by seven young people from rural communities bordering South Africa’s Kruger national park in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, University of … | South Africa | format: article, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, subject: youth | south-africa location | article language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities youth | |
#CTStakeover Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba South Africa | Blog (2019/10/31) #CTStakeover Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba South Africa | Event, Phase 2, South Africa | format: blog, language: english, subject: reflections, subject: youth | event phase2 south-africa location | blog language-english subject-reflections youth | |
Meet Taahirah | Taahirah is 18 years old and from Cape Town South Africa. In this video Taahirah tells us more about her interests, inspirations and social engagement, | South Africa, Young Changemakers, Youth Research Board | format: film, language: english | south-africa changemakers youth-research-board location | film language-english | |
The Emerging Moringa Economy | Photo essay on the moringa economy in South Africa by Follow-on Fund project, Transnational and Intergenerational Exploration of Ecological Heritage. | Phase 3, South Africa | language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 13 Climate, SDG 3 Health and Well-being, SDG 8 Work | phase3 south-africa location | language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-13-climate sdg-3-health-and-well-being sdg-8-work | |
Phase One Critical Review: The Change-Makers (South Africa) | In March 2018, Prof Chaya Herman, Dr Charity Meki-Kombe and Prof Stuart Taberner conducted a critical evaluation and review of Changing the Story Phase 1 project 'The Change-makers.' The report … | Dr Charity Meki-Kombe, Prof Chaya Herman, Prof Stuart Taberner | Phase 1, South Africa | format: report, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, SDG 4 Education, subject: reflections | phase1 south-africa location | report language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-4-education subject-reflections |
PUBLICATION LAUNCH! Changing the Story: Our Third Year | Blog (2021/05/21) PUBLICATION LAUNCH! Changing the Story: Our Third Year | Aisha Kayani | Cambodia, Colombia, India, Kosovo, Phase 2, South Africa, Young Changemakers | format: blog, language: english, subject: covid19, subject: participatory arts, subject: youth | cambodia colombia india kosovo phase2 south-africa changemakers location | blog language-english subject-covid19 subject-participatory-arts youth |
Voicing ambiguities in the Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba co-creator collective | This article authored by Aylwyn Walsh and Scott Burnett considers youth co-production in the context of the Changing the Story phase 1 project Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba. The participatory project conceives … | Dr Aylwyn Walsh, Dr Scott Burnett, Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba | Phase 1, Phase 2, South Africa | format: article, language: english | phase1 phase2 south-africa location | article language-english |
Digital Storytelling in ImaginingOtherwise (film two) | Developed with young artists in collaboration with (Lo-Def Film Factory), this step-by-step film demonstrates how you can use mobile phones for telling your stories. A group of the ImaginingOtherwise participants … | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, format: toolkit, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, SDG 16 Institutions | phase2 south-africa location | film toolkit language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions | |
Digital Storytelling in ImaginingOtherwise (film one) | The ImaginingOtherwise crew introduces some of their tasks and experiments using video storytelling to amplify voices and advocate for their communities. | Phase 2, South Africa | format: film, format: toolkit, language: english, SDG 10 Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities, SDG 16 Institutions | phase2 south-africa location | film toolkit language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions | |
Changing the Story Film nominated for Two National Research Film Awards | blog (2018/09/24) Changing the Story Film nominated for Two National Research Film Awards | Phase 1, South Africa | format: blog, language: english | phase1 south-africa location | blog language-english | |
Meet Taahirah | Meet Taahirah, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Cape Town, South Africa. | South Africa, Young Changemakers, Youth Research Board | format: film, language: english | south-africa changemakers youth-research-board location | film language-english | |
ImaginingOtherwise: Meet Gomez | The ImaginingOtherwise project visited the Zeitz Mocaa museum as our final art-activism-educational event for this difficult year. Meet Gomez who is studying engineering and was fascinated by the architecture of … | Gomez | Event, South Africa, Young Changemakers | format: film, subject: participatory arts, subject: reflections, subject: youth | event south-africa changemakers location | film subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections youth |
Mobility Fund Report, 2020 | In 2019, Changing the Story (CTS) launched a Mobility Fund, offering financial support of up to £1000 designed to enhance the mobility and professional development of CTS grantees based in … | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, India, Nepal, South Africa, Venezuela | format: report, language: english, subject: policy, subject: youth | bosnia-and-herzegovina colombia india nepal south-africa venezuela location | report language-english subject-policy youth |