Garden Route Centre for the Arts

03/10/2026

03/10/2026

Teen artists took part in a Figure Drawing Workshop at our GRCA Sky Studio as part of the Plett Arts Festival, working from a live model and exploring gesture, movement and form through drawing.

02/10/2026

SWEET SURREALISM

What began with a lesson in Surrealism and a simple sketch of an impossible ice cream cone became a playful mixed-media sculpture project.

Created by our youngest students, aged 5 to 11, the project began with exploring ideas on paper before constructing their cones using papier-mâché and developing their sketches into imaginative three-dimensional artworks.

Through the process, the students moved from learning about an art movement to experimenting, problem-solving and bringing their own surreal ideas to life.

We were delighted to share their work as part of the Plett Arts Festival.

9 LOOKOUT CENTRE
Main Street, Plettenberg Bay
Until 2 October, 2026

01/10/2026

27/09/2026

PLETT TEENS — THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!

Calling all high school creatives in Plettenberg Bay! 🔥 As part of the Plett Arts Festival, the Garden Route Centre for the Arts and Cape Town Creative Academy are bringing TWO hands-on workshops designed especially for teens.

✏️ FIGURE DRAWING — A four-hour session working from a live model. Explore gesture, proportion, movement & expressive drawing.

🖨️ LINOCUT PRINTMAKING — Learn to carve, ink and print your own artwork. FREE + materials included! 🙌

Whether you’re already an artist or just curious to try something new, this is your chance to create, experiment and meet other young creatives.

Parents — encourage your teen to grab a spot! Teens — tag your creative friends and SIGN UP! 🚀

https://gardenroutearts.org/events/

⚡️Plettenberg Bay
⚡️Teen & high-school focused
⚡️Part of the Plett Arts Festival
⚡️Limited spaces

27/09/2026

BEYOND REALITY | SURREALIST ACRYLICS

Taught by teaching artist Kevin Leathem, our preteen/teenage students explored Surrealism through an in-depth painting project designed to develop both artistic practice and portfolio work. After studying the movement and its ideas, they were challenged to create their own surrealist compositions, drawing on recent learning in perspective, landscape, tonal values and painting technique. The result is a collection of thoughtful, highly individual works.

1. SILENT PERCH by Connor Hall (Age 16)
2. SWEET MORNING by Lisa Ge**er (Age 11)
3. FALLING THROUGH TIME by Mieke Oberholzer (Age 16)
4. NO TIME by Viola Van Der Lingen (Age 11)

These works will be on view at The Lookout Centre on Main Street, Plettenberg Bay until 4 October. (Weather permitting)

26/09/2026

SEE IT YOUR WAY

What does it mean to see the world differently?

For our Youth Art Competition, young artists were invited to explore that question through their own eyes, ideas, and imaginations. The result was a collection of works as individual as the artists who made them.

The winning and runner up artwork will be on display at The Lookout Centre on Main Street, Plettenberg Bay until 4 October.

We are pleased to announce the winners and second-place artists:

GROUP 5
Winner — Lisa Venter
2nd Place — Neo Gusha

GROUP 4
Winner — Fox Brewis
2nd Place — Wayne Nyamazunza

GROUP 3
Winner — Jess Jankelow
2nd Place — Olivia Norgaard

GROUP 2
Winner — Darrian Hood
2nd Place — Devonay

GROUP 1
Winner — Dune-Rose Zack
2nd Place — Whitney Bluett

Congratulations to all of the artists who participated. Your work reminds us that there is never only one way to look at the world.

14/09/2026

13/09/2026

✨Kids & Teens at Plett Arts Festival Workorkshops✨

This September and October, the Garden Route Centre for the Arts presents a programme of workshops for young artists, exploring portraiture, printmaking, figure drawing, and pattern.

Designed for different ages and levels of experience, the programme offers an opportunity to work alongside practicing artists and educators while developing new approaches to making and looking.

Kids Cubist Portraits
FULLY BOOKED
With GRCA Founder & Teaching Artist Jani Taljaard
Ages 5–12

Teen Linocut Printing - FREE
29–30 September, 10am–2pm
With Shalner Ching from the Cape Town Creative Academy
Ages 13-17

Teen Figure Drawing
1 October, 1–5pm
With GRCA Teaching Artist Kevin Leathem
Ages 13-17

Kids Mandala Drawing
With GRCA Teaching Artist Anandi Cronje
Ages 6+

All workshops take place at the GRCA Sky Studio, Plettenberg Bay, as part of the Plett Arts Festival.

More info and booking details visit https://gardenroutearts.org/events

To enquire or book directly, contact Jani via WhatsApp at 0761691598 or email [email protected].

10/09/2026

Introducing Teaching Artist | KEVIN LEATHEM

Kevin is a practicing artist and art professional with over 15 years of international experience across museum, conservation, and installation contexts. He holds a Master of Fine Art from Rhodes University and has worked in London on specialised projects for the Royal Collection and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

He is the founder of Plett Art Services, where he provides art restoration, installation, and custom display solutions for private, gallery, and museum clients. His work spans the technical and material aspects of art presentation, from conservation to complex mounting and exhibition design.

At GRCA, his teaching draws on this experience, supporting the development of both technical skill and a deeper understanding of materials, process, and the physical life of artworks.

• SEE HIS WORK •
Kevin’s exceptional oil paintings will be on exhibition at Barrington’s as part of their Plett Arts Festival programme, running from 25 September – 4 October.

Kevin will also be participating in an Artists’ Talk at Barrington’s on 27 September at 11:30.

👉 Kevin Leathem
📲 www.plettartservices.com