Our Youth Programs
Our Youth Development Programme is rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful tool for transformation, healing, and opportunity. Aligned with our vision to cultivate inclusive artistic platforms and nurture emerging voices, the programme brings together young people from across the Cape Flats — including Khayelitsha, Langa, Nyanga, Delft, and Mitchells Plain — into one shared, safe creative space. By bridging geographic and social divides, we foster connection, collaboration, and a sense of belonging among youth who may otherwise never meet, yet share similar lived experiences.
Through structured mentorship in visual arts, photography, and arts-based education, participants are guided by practicing artists, educators, and cultural workers who invest in both their creative and personal development. The programme exists not only to build technical skills, but to provide positive alternatives to environments that can at times be unsafe or limiting for young people. We position art as both an expressive outlet and a pathway to future study and career opportunities within the creative industries.
Our activities include teenage creative camps, educational outings to galleries and cultural institutions, and hands-on workshops ranging from painting, drawing, and mixed media to digital photography and storytelling. We also host mentor engagement sessions, portfolio development clinics, artist talks, and career guidance seminars that expose youth to real-world creative pathways. Collaborative exhibitions and open studio showcases give participants the opportunity to present their work publicly, building confidence and professional experience.
In addition, the programme integrates life-skills training, peer dialogue circles, and wellness check-ins to support emotional and social growth. Community photo-walks, public art projects, and heritage documentation initiatives encourage participants to re-engage with their neighbourhoods through a lens of pride and critical reflection.
Ultimately, Dac on Dorp’s youth programmes are about more than art — they are about access, empowerment, and re-imagining possibility. By investing in young creatives today, we are helping shape a more resilient, expressive, and culturally vibrant tomorrow.
May 5
This afterschool, community-based program is a vibrant youth arts initiative that brings together children aged 10 to 16 from communities across Cape Town—including Bo-Kaap, Langa, Nyanga, and Khayelitsha—for creative exploration and self-expression.
Rooted in the belief that art is a powerful tool for healing and empowerment, the program provides a safe, inclusive space where young people can connect and learn from leading South African artists, photographers, designers, and filmmakers.
Through hands-on sessions in drawing, painting, film, and more, learners are encouraged to share their stories, build confidence, and discover their creative voices. More than just an art class, DAC on Dorp fosters belonging, unity, and growth, nurturing Cape Town’s next generation of thinkers, creators, and changemakers.
Youth Month Celebration
Jun 16
Our Youth Days are a vibrant celebration of creativity, community, and the enduring spirit of South African youth. Hosted in Bo-Kaap, this event honours the legacy of June 16, 1976, while providing a space for young people to express themselves, connect with one another, and imagine a peaceful, just future.
Through art, storytelling, workshops, and shared meals, the program empowers youth to reflect on their experiences and amplify their voices. It is a day rooted in healing, expression, and hope—where creativity becomes a powerful tool for transformation and connection.
We believe in the potential of young people to lead change. This day is dedicated to nurturing that potential, celebrating their resilience, and fostering connections across generations and communities.