The year was 1985 – a handful of Midlands-based artists and crafters gathered at Caversham Mill to find an original way to market their work. They put their creative heads 
together, and the concept of the Midlands Meander was born.
2015 thus marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Midlands Meander Association. While much has changed since the days of the hand-drawn, brown paper Midlands Meander map, the Midlands Meander continues to delight visitors withexceptional, world-renowned art and craft.
In fact, some of the original founders are still part of the Midlands Meander family: Lindsay Scott’s unique, oil-fired stoneware and porcelain can still be found at Hillfold Pottery in the Lidgetton Valley; potter Ian Glenny is still creating popular Mexican Fireplaces at Dargle Valley Pottery; and Rob Shuttleworth, the son of original members Helen and Andy, has taken over the family business of spinning, dying and weaving wool and mohair into a glorious range of throws, carpets and scarves.And Caversham Mill, the place where it all began, is now a thriving manor house, function venue and restaurant, thanks to current owners Di and Terry Acres.
While these original members are still part of the Midlands Meander family, the Meander has become one of South Africa’s most sought-after and beloved tourism routes – the oldest self-drive route in South Africa. Today, the Midlands Meander is proud to feature almost 150 members, offering a variety of accommodation, country cuisine, conference and wedding venues, handmade arts and crafts and plenty of fun for the whole family.
The Midlands Meander may offer more than exclusively arts and crafts, but the values of the Midlands Meander have remained the same, as expressed by the late Justin McCarthy, founder of long-time member Groundcover Leather Company: “It’s the slow pace of life, the clean country environment, old fashioned family values, creative and meaningful work, and the opportunity to make a difference in our communities that makes the Midlands Meander a good place.I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else.”
Contact:
Midlands Meander – www.midlandsmeander.co.za;; 033 330 8195
Back to our roots: increasing the number of Midlands Meander artists
Funded by Nedbank Arts Affinity and The Arts & Culture Trust, the new Midlands Meander Artist Subvention Fund project aims to double the number of financially secure artist members of the Midlands Meander by 2020 – and to ensure that artist businesses are sustainable.
The Midlands Meander provides artists in the KZN Midlands with a powerful marketing platform. Artists will benefit from all marketing activities offered by the Midlands Meander.
Applications are open to artists living and working in the Midlands Meander (existing Midlands Meander members and new artist members) who are unable to afford the full Midlands Meander annual membership fees.
The Midlands Meander celebrates 30 years of unique arts and crafts at The Hilton Arts Festival
It was a handful of artists and crafters who formed the Midlands Meander in 1985. Thirty years on, the Midlands Meander is a thriving tourism route (the oldest in South Africa!) with some of the best home-grown arts and crafts in the country. For the second year running, the Midlands Meander Experience at The Hilton Arts Festival will bring a taste of this unique, hand-crafted work to festival-goers.
Visitors to the Hilton College Art Block from 18-20 September can look forward to creative workshops, gallery space, live demos by the artists themselves, and a host of high-quality crafts born on the Midlands Meander.
The gallery space, curated by the esteemed Trayci Tompkins of Zulu-Lulu, will play host to Trayci’sstatements ceramics, Astrid Dahl’s organic clay pieces inspired by leaf, flower and seed capsule shapes, a celebration of two decades of quality workmanship from The Goodwin Foundry with a collection of beautiful bronze sculptures, as well as the iconic Nguni paintings from Midlands Meander newcomer Cindy Powell.
The legendary, local leatherwork of Groundcover Leather Company and Tsonga Shoes & Bags will be available for purchase, along with Peter’s Gate Herbal Centre’s plants and all-natural products such as creams, essential oils, soaps, organic pickles and jams.
The work of two participants of the Midlands Meander Emerging Artist/Crafter Project will be showcased at the festival. Siyabonga Duma and the Impumelelo Bead Artists were nominated by members of the Midlands Meander and were chosen by a selection committee of established Midlands Meander artists and crafters.
Viewing the masters at work is made possible by Guy Sterling from Sterling’s Wrought Iron and Barbara McGrath’s Dragonfire beads, who will be giving a ‘behind-the-scenes’ demonstration of their craft.
If you want to get your own hands-on creative experience,the stained glass and pottery specialists from Aladdin’s-De-Light Studio will be sharing their wealth of experience with various practical workshops.
And when it’s time for the perfect pick-me up, the award-winning Terbodore Coffee Roasters stand serves up the tastiest roasted coffee in the Midlands.
For more information or to download the festival programme with craft workshop times/dates,visit www.hiltonfestival.co.za.
Contact: Midlands Meander –