Durban — In honour of Heritage Month, the US Mission South Africa hosted American multimedia artist Bayete Ross Smith this week to share knowledge with the youth.
A photographer, film-maker and teacher, Smith is known for his widely acclaimed study, “ Our Kind of People,” which analyses stereotypes and examines how perceptions based on race, background and gender affect our daily interactions.
The US Embassy and its consulates in Joburg, Cape Town and Durban brought Smith to South Africa so that he could share his talent and expertise in conversation with local artists, activists, scholars and young people across the country.
Smith spoke to audiences about designing thought-provoking art meant to challenge bias, promote equity and foster community.
On Tuesday the KwaZulu-Natal Society of the Arts hosted a programme where Smith shared his work and approach to art.
The session, which was free and open to the public, featured special presentations and lively discussions with members of Durban’s vibrant arts community.
The event served as a capstone to a series of lectures and master classes Smith has led this week at universities, libraries and civil society organisations in Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
His presentations and public dialogues were drawn from US experiences to reflect on the meaning of the US and South Africa’s shared values around diversity, democracy and freedom.
Smith is part of the US Speaker Programme, which is a US government-sponsored initiative that aims to connect American citizen experts to international audiences on key foreign policy topics.
The US Speaker Programme aims to recruit dynamic American experts to engage international audiences on topics of strategic importance to the US.
The programmes are conducted in person and through virtual engagement platforms.
Key policy priorities include countering disinformation and cyber-security. Approximately 650 programmes are conducted annually.
Daily News