- The Independent on Saturday
FANCY a lazy Sunday sauntering from one art studio to the next, with some pottery and glass art thrown in?
That’s just the idea with a new initiative called The Highway Saunter, launched by the Gillitt Foundation, to support local artists and promote home-grown goods.
Cheryl Lefevre, of the Gillitt Foundation, which assists individuals and businesses, said they wanted to showcase and celebrate the artists in the greater Highway and Outer West areas of Durban, leading up to Hilton.
The Saunter is a network of routes that visit more than 140 artists and crafters along the way.
“People very often go from Durban, straight to the Midlands for the Midlands Meander and then on to the Drakensberg. We are saying, let’s showcase the talent of the artists and the crafters in the Highway area. We don’t want to be overlooked anymore,” Lefevre said.
The route will be launched next month, just ahead of the festive rush, and Lefevre said those doing the Highway Saunter would be able to find presents that were all locally made and handmade.
“This has been a leap of faith for everyone who is part of the initiative. We have artists who work with watercolours, acrylic, pottery, and crafters who work with bronze and wood. There are also food and clothing stops along the way. We believe tourists will love the concept, and locals will be able to discover more of the province,” she said.
Some of the areas covered by the route include Durban Harbour, Durban North, Westville, Botha’s Hill, Kloof, Inchanga, Pietermaritzburg and Hilton.
Maps and a website will be available from next month.
