The Imbali Visual Literacy Project is a pioneering South African non-profit organisation dedicated to visual art, design and craft education. Established in 1988 in response to the lack of art education in Black schools during apartheid, Imbali has since worked to promote inclusive, accessible, and inspiring arts education. Through its teacher training programmes, educational resources, and full-time vocational craft training, Imbali equips educators and youth with the creative skills, visual literacy, and critical thinking needed to thrive in the arts and beyond.
Imbali Visual Literacy Project: http://imbali.za.org/
Adventuring into Art Resource Books: https://imbaliartbooks.org.za/
Ruth Sack
Ruth Sack has worked in art teacher education since graduating in Fine Art and Art History from the University of the Witwatersrand. She started working in the Imbali Visual Literacy Project in 1989, eventually serving as its Director for thirteen years. Her experience broadly spans a range of institutions, including the Johannesburg Art Foundation, the Curriculum Development Programme in Johannesburg, the Denis Goldberg House of Hope in Cape Town, and with several museums in South Africa. Ruth is the lead author of Imbali’s acclaimed Adventuring into Art resource books, a widely used series that supports hands-on, inclusive creative learning. She continues to contribute to Imbali’s work on a project basis—planning, developing and writing educational materials and policy, training teachers, collaborating with government education departments, and with organisations such as museum education departments.
Justine Watterson
Justine Watterson is an arts educator, programme developer, and non-profit director with over 20 years of experience in creative education. As Director of the Imbali Visual Literacy Project since 2010, she has led the organisation’s transformation into a thriving centre for arts and crafts education, training hundreds of teachers, crafters, and youth annually. She is co-author of the Adventuring into Art series and has facilitated creative art teacher training workshops and creative projects nationally and regionally. With a Master’s in Fine Art, a Higher Diploma in Education, and extensive experience in fundraising, project management, facilitation, and curriculum development, Justine is a committed advocate for accessible and meaningful arts education.