SUPPORTING LOCAL INITIATIVES TO CELEBRATE OBSERVATORY’S
ABOUT OBSID & HERITAGE
In 2020, OBSID undertook a survey of residents desires, and one of the issues raised was the need for a repository of the history of Observatory, which allows for a strengthen the Observatory community through the celebration of our unique and diverse history and culture.
OBSID has funded efforts to catalogue the vast range of historical resources related to Observatory. These range from images to stories, videos to physical artefacts. The history of Observatory is one of diversity, resistance and celebration, of normal day to day lives, and extraordinary endeavour, of art, of science, of parties and research spanning and encapsulating all the stories of Cape Town.
These resources, and others, are now ripe for sharing and OBSID is keen to support residents interested in undertaking activities that will engage, celebrate or initiate conversations about Observatory’s history.
WHAT
OBSID invites everyone in our local community, as well as the broader Cape Town to propose ideas and to undertake heritage activation activities. Examples of activations could include:
● Walking tours
● Film nights
● Spoken Word Evenings
● Book Readings
● Long Table Evenings
● Living Libraries
● Flash mobs
● Community choir events
● Murals
● Community Art Creations
● Statues and sculptures
● Religious or Cultural Ceremonies
● Heritage Maps
● Heritage brochures, booklets or online documents
HOW?
OBSID is calling on volunteers who are excited about highlighting, sharing or celebrating our history in any format to apply for support from OBSID.
This support may include:
● Access to heritage resources and reference documents
● Facilitating introductions to venues
● Assistance with event application processes
● Assistance with logistical planning
● Connect you to local projects and community collaborators
● Marketing and community awareness
● Small funding grants
WHEN?
We have set aside time and potential funding for activities to take place between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2024.
WHERE?
We will support activities that take place anywhere in Observatory (within the OBSID geographic area)
REQUEST FOR SUPPORT PROCESS
Heritage Activation Submissions process opens: 1 September 2023 Submissions will be evaluated by the OBSID working group on a monthly basis.
REGISTER YOUR PROPOSED ACTIVATION AND APPLY FOR SUPPORT OR FUNDING → Heritage Project Activation Support – application
Contact [email protected] for more information.
OBSID COMMUNITY HERITAGE ACTIVATION PROJECTS
Preference will be given to activities that:
● Are heritage related
● Are Interactive
● Local
● Community participative
● Collaborative projects
● Employ and collaborate with local people and business
● Generate emotional, physical or intellectual engagement with Observatory’s history
ETHOS
OBSID takes as its guiding principles and culture, the ethos that has always been central to both Observatory as a community and behind successful community strengthening activities in general.
These include:
● Mutual Respect
● Diversity
● Communal involvement and participation
● Creativity
