With no formal training in art and sharing his love for art with children in Mitchell’s Plain earned Mark Jeneker an award from the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS).
Jeneker, a long-time Mitchell’s Plain resident, walked away with the Cultural Affairs Award for After School Arts and Culture Coaching Excellence during an event on Wednesday 12 October.
The awards honoured individuals and organisations who made a significant contribution in the sectors of arts, culture, language, libraries, archives, heritage and museums across the Western Cape.
However, his dream is to build his own art studio at Portlands Primary School where he is the arts teacher. He gives all the children a platform to come and showcase their creativity.
“As a child I loved art and at an early stage of my life I fell into gangsterism and drugs. But God brought me out of that lifestyle and today I am a God-fearing person. Through art I want to show children that their is a better side of life and as an artist you can make a career and earn money,” he says.
For more than 40 years, Jeneker has been residing in Mitchell’s Plain and his art classes are for every child.
“My programme is for every child to be creative in the art field and to keep them busy and away from all negativity. I need help with all sorts of art supplies. We also specialise in recycle materials to make recycle sculpture.
“In 2021 Portlands Primary was crowned as the Recycle Heroes for making the best recycle sculptures. I started in 2010 with the after school art programmes at the Town Centre Library and during school holidays after my dark past. In 2016, I won the DCAS and Lead SA Hero Award and that made my journey even better and didn’t know how to stop,” Jeneker says.
After the awards he had this desire to teach kids art and keep them in a safe environment.
“I went to different schools to share my vision with the art classes. I met the founder of Baz-Art who supported me until now, through the Covid-19 pandemic. I spread my wings with my programmes to Cape Town, Salt River, Gugulethu, Philippi and all around Mitchell’s Plain. I have three Golden Awards from the education department besides the awards from DCAS.
“For my lateste award I was nominated by Town Centre Library and Rachel Kepkey for the excellent done with my programme. I have a registered NPO, The Mark Jeneker Foundation and hope to continue with the art programme for the unforeseen future,” Jeneker says.
He is thankful to DCAS, every organisation for assisting him with their motivation letters, local councillors and his principal Eleonor Braaf.
“Clive Arries of West End Primary, Humanitas, Vorster Masterton and Town Centre Library. A huge thanks to the National Lottery Commission for their great funding,” he says.
Jeneker’s hobbies are art using all mediums.
“When I’ busy painting I’m so relaxed as it takes met into another world or an imaginary world. I sing in church and for my own entertainment, and love reggae music of Bob Marley. Remember music and art go together, and both helps me to relax,” Jeneker says.
- For more information contact Mark Jeneker on 078 637 8853.
