Creativity Meets Conservation: JB Marks Hosts Inaugural Environmental Arts Festival

Tshepiso Mogorosi
Mar 30
2 min read

The JB Marks Local Municipality, in a dynamic partnership with the Kagiso Lerefolo Foundation (KLF), recently transformed the Chris Hani Community Hall into a vibrant hub of youth activism and artistic excellence. The 1st Annual Environmental Arts Festival brought together students from across the region to use their voices—and their paintbrushes—to champion the future of our planet.

Supported by the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Heritage, the festival aimed to bridge the gap between environmental education and creative expression. Students from Boitshoko, B.A. Seobi, and Seiphemelo High Schools rose to the occasion, delivering performances and artworks that resonated with energy and purpose.

A Showcase of Talent and Passion

The competition was fierce but celebratory, covering four core creative disciplines. Each category required students to weave environmental themes into their work, resulting in a powerful display of community-conscious art.

Drama & Storytelling

Seiphemelo High School took the lead in the Drama category, delivering a performance that captured the audience’s imagination. In the Storytelling category—expressed through the lens of visual arts—B.A. Seobi High School secured first place for their compelling narrative ability.

Poetry & Music

Boitshoko High School emerged as a powerhouse in the rhythmic categories, sweeping 1st place in both Poetry and Music. Their students demonstrated a unique ability to blend lyrical flow with urgent calls for environmental preservation.

Official Results Table

Category	1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place
Drama	Seiphemelo	—	—
Storytelling	B.A. Seobi	Seiphemelo	Boitshoko
Poetry	Boitshoko	B.A. Seobi	Seiphemelo
Music	Boitshoko	Seiphemelo	—

A Community Effort

This landmark event was made possible through a massive collaborative effort. Beyond the Kagiso Lerefolo Foundation, the festival saw support from the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation & Tourism (DEDECT) and a host of local partners.

Special thanks were extended to Blue Ribbon, Pono Security, Vuyani & Soks Security, Andy Sounds, Lahmack Pictures, Mako, Black Son, Uhuru, and Polyco for their commitment to nurturing local youth talent and promoting a greener tomorrow.