By Naa Shormei Odonkor, GNA
Kumasi, March 1, GNA – About 24 students of the Bourne Community College in the United Kingdom have been trained in Batik, Tie and Dye by the Visual Arts Department of the Ashanti Regional Centre for National Culture (CNC).
The students were led by the management of the Sunshine Volunteers Organisation, a non-profit organisation in Kumasi.
The training was aimed at introducing the students to the traditional textile arts to ensure the preservation, promotion and sustainability of Ghana’s cultural crafts in textile production.
The participants were taken through the step-by-step basic techniques in tools handling and hot wax, stamping, folding, twisting, marbling and binding methods with strings on mercerised cotton fabric, to create interesting patterns.
Each student was allowed to create their preferred batik tie and dye design on plain cotton fabrics to ensure their understanding of the knowledge imparted through demonstration.
At the end of the training session, all the participants were able to demonstrate their knowledge gained in the batik, tie and dye to take home as their firstly made traditional textiles.
Mrs Grace Agyapong Fosu, the Acting Head of the Visual Arts Department of the CNC, Ashanti Region noted that the Centre was popularly known for the preservation, promotion and sustainability of Ghana’s culture.
She mentioned that the Batik, Tie and Dye department was a section of the Visual Arts Department and had trained a lot of people including prisoners with the aim of promoting job opportunities and preserving culture.
Mr Peter Kofi Marfo, the Acting Ashanti Regional Director of the CNC applauded the students for their enthusiasm in the Ghanaian indigenous batik, tie and dye craft.
He said that the CNC was ready to collaborate with organisations to promote the Ghanaian culture and arts especially this year as the center celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Mr Marfo called on all stakeholders and organisations to reach out to the management of the Centre in the region to either collaborate or support the CNC to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Ms Florence Nketiah, the Coordinator for Sunshine Volunteers Organisation, expressed her satisfaction for the warm reception and thanked the management of the CNC for their collaboration and cooperation as she looked forward to future partnerships.
GNA
Edited by Yussif Ibrahim/ Christabel Addo