Keiskamma Art Project, The

The Keiskamma Art Project in the Eastern Cape town of Hamburg has helped bring hope and confidence to a group of rural women living in an area plagued by high levels of unemployment. They use their embroidery skills to create tapestries that tell stories reflecting their culture and history. From its humble beginnings in the village of Hamburg in the Eastern Cape, the Keiskamma Art Project has grown into a number of art studios specialising in beading, felt-making, embroideries, ceramics and printmaking. Today 130 artists, mainly women, work under the leadership of 12 local managers and group leaders. They produce arts and crafts that include cushion covers, wall-hangings, bed linen and bags that are all hand-embroidered with scenes depicting the culture and heritage of the region's Xhosa people.