The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has intensified its efforts to develop the province’s fledgling craft industry with the announcement that the corporation has appointed a head for the province’s craft agency, Melanie Mahona.

Mahona comes with impressive development credentials having established the Western Cape’s craft initiative after a successful career with the Department of Arts and Culture as a trainer. She will be based at the newly established Eastern Cape Craft Development Agency (ECCDA) offices at the Border Technikon in East London.

The choice of ECCDA offices – giving the organisation a face – was done with care.

“Accessibility was a top priority but so was being with partner who shared similar goals. A further advantage was being able to leverage off their expertise and skills across an industries which is closely related,” adds Mahona who hails from the Eastern Cape.

She adds that partnerships and shared vision is the key to ECCDA delivering on its mandate.

“We must make this industry stronger because it is, in many cases, the sole livelihood of some 2 500 highly skilled people who have the ability to earn a living wage but have very little infrastructure or support.

“However, our success is dependent on our ability to assimilate and leverage off the combined strengths of partners who share a common vision,” says Mahona.

It is in collaboration with these partners that the nine programmes will be executed. Three programmes have been priority. They are establishing brand recognition, increased market share to developing crafters who are confident and expressive, and the creation of unique products which appeal to the market.

“We have chosen these programmes carefully because we want our efforts to result in exponential growth for the industry,” says Mahona.

Other factors which influenced the choice of programmes included the intrinsic characteristics of the industry; being a home-based industry which could benefit from being organised, improved financial support, infrastructure and training.

A key focus in the agency’s first year will be organising the industry. One example of how the industry is to be organised is with the establishment of six craft nodes:

Butterworth: Beading and accessories
East London and surrounds: Garment and fashion design
Port Elizabeth and surrounds: Ceramics and textiles products
Port St Johns: Wood carvings
Queenstown: Mohair
Umthatha: Weaving

Another important short term goal is to find a financial institution that is willing to provide a creative basket of services to crafters in terms of their finances.

“The industry hasn’t been known for its financial prowess. We need to change this if we are to be seriously,” says Mahona.

She believes that these initiatives will clearly demonstrate the agency is serious about its commitment to the Eastern Cape’s crafters and “they can reach out to the agency anytime. We will be there to listen and help.”