College of Magic
Encyclopedia
The College of Magic is a non-profit organization
(007-517 NPO/NGO) based in Cape Town
, South Africa
that teaches Magic (illusion)
to people from various levels of society with the goal of creating social empowerment. The organisation’s projects address key community concerns at grassroots level.
One of the principal contributors to the College’s success has been the overwhelming culture
that exists in the organisation and the dedication of the voluntary teaching staff. The Director, David Gore, has been with the organisation since its inception and is dedicated to advancing the art of magic.
In 1992, the College of Magic moved into its present home, a beautifully renovated Victorian
house in Claremont, Cape Town
. Officially opened in 1995 by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology as the Magical Arts Centre, the College – with the help of the community – has restored the building and developed its facilities for their unique teaching and training needs.
, ventriloquism
, mime
and clowning.
The unique curriculum consists of six core courses that are structured hierarchically, with each course increasing in complexity, expectations of the learner and skill mastery. In the first three years, students are introduced to the basics of magic including presentation skills, the theory of entertainment and the essential elements of controlling an audience
. During the fourth, fifth and sixth years, the curriculum becomes substantially more demanding in terms of the technical requirements and the theoretical aspects of entertaining. Students focus on entertaining children, sleight of hand
, close-up magic, stage magic, magic with animals and stage illusions.
The courses are geared to encouraging individuality and innovation; hence workshops are frequently included as part of the course, where students can build their own props and experiment with new ideas. The nature of the courses is instructive, where opportunities for learners to continually “go back” – i.e. to refine, rehearse, improve and become more competent “magical” performers at that particular level – is fundamental. Embedded in each course is a cycle of action that includes:
The syllabus
of each course is regularly assessed and upgraded wherever necessary. The required standard of performance is monitored closely so that uniformity and excellence is maintained. Lessons are held on Saturday mornings, and tutorials are arranged at other times directly with the instructors.
1. The Non-Executive Board of Management - The College of Magic is governed by an experienced board of trustees, who are responsible for all decision-making in line with the organisation’s constitution
. Both their chairperson and their treasurer
are graduates of the organisation. The executive director
and founder of the College, David Gore, has served the organisation for 27 years.
2. The Administrative Staff - The administrative staff is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation.
3. The Voluntary Teaching Staff - The College started with a teaching staff consisting of three people. It has since grown to include professional magicians, experienced teachers, specialists in the various allied arts, graduates of the College, administrative staff and visiting lectures (local and international). The expertise and nurturing approach offered at the College has continued to grow over the years with staff development courses being run on an ongoing basis. The staff are responsible for all aspects of the course they are teaching, including syllabus development, lesson preparation, one-on-one tutorial sessions and grading of student progress. The teaching staff is the backbone of the organisation, and all 14 members are volunteers.
The MAC consists of a double-story Victorian
house with a wrap-around porch upstairs and downstairs, and is situated on 1840m2 of property. The building has a very homely feel with a large entrance foyer and a mini-theatre
that can comfortably seat forty people. Five rooms are used for teaching purposes and two further rooms are available for tutorials when required. One of the teaching rooms is a fully equipped video studio which provides an excellent medium for training. There are sound and recording facilities available, as well as limited lighting equipment that is used to provide students with an all-round knowledge of show business. There is a kitchen-come-staff room and four offices, one of which doubles as a reception area. There is a library-come-social room where students can socialise and take out books and videos. This library
is one of the largest magic museums in South Africa and houses five collections of books: the Museum library, the Cape Magician’s Circle Library, the Junior Library, the Senior Library and the extensive Staff Library. There is also a collection of videotapes and DVDs, which form an integral part of the teaching process.
The building has a courtyard in which the College’s animals are kept and two large shipping containers in the back garden. One stores the extensive collection of stage illusions, magical props and costumes; the second is a fully equipped workshop for the students, and was developed through the sponsorship of the Old Mutual
Foundation.
is by far its most valuable asset
, there is a desperate need to consolidate and develop its physical resources:
(approx. $186,000 US Dollars), and will cover the costs of constructing and furnishing the “Imagination Centre and Secret Garden” development; necessary extensive renovations to the existing building and grounds; and the amount owing on the building.
SARMOTI Grant was established enabling disadvantaged young people to join the college and experience the world of magic. Delivered in person by their emissary and coordinator, Lynette Chappell, the Siegfried & Roy SARMOTI Grant heralded a new era for the College of Magic.
Called the Magic in the Community project, it allows a group of students to be transported for weekly lessons from their destitute homes in the Cape Flats to the fantasy-fulfilling world of the college. It is through the generosity of people such as Siegfried & Roy that these young people are able to escape their hardships and explore their imagination.
"Do You Believe In Magic?" premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles on February 9, 2008, and it was also selected for the 2008 International Film Festival of South Africa. For more information, please visit www.doyoubelieveinmagic.net.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
(007-517 NPO/NGO) based in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
that teaches Magic (illusion)
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
to people from various levels of society with the goal of creating social empowerment. The organisation’s projects address key community concerns at grassroots level.
One of the principal contributors to the College’s success has been the overwhelming culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
that exists in the organisation and the dedication of the voluntary teaching staff. The Director, David Gore, has been with the organisation since its inception and is dedicated to advancing the art of magic.
World Class
In 2007, the College of Magic celebrates its 27th anniversary. It is the current holder of 17 national and 2 international awards. College of Magic graduates perform throughout South Africa, and the world. The College of Magic is a member of the International Jugglers Association (IJA).History
The College of Magic opened its doors on February 23, 1980, and is the only one of its kind in the world. It was established with the aim of providing much-needed performance arts training for aspirant entertainers from all sections of Cape Town’s community. Many young people were desperate to learn the art of magic, but access to training was very difficult – few experts were prepared to teach and necessary resources were scarce.In 1992, the College of Magic moved into its present home, a beautifully renovated Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
house in Claremont, Cape Town
Claremont, Cape Town
Claremont is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated six miles south of the city, and is one of the so-called "Southern Suburbs". It is an important commercial and residential area, which is currently experiencing significant growth and development.-History:Until the arrival of Dutch...
. Officially opened in 1995 by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology as the Magical Arts Centre, the College – with the help of the community – has restored the building and developed its facilities for their unique teaching and training needs.
Objectives
- To provide skills training in the magical and theatrical arts.
- To promote and improve leadershipLeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
potential and excellence. - To offer access to information, performance and employment opportunities, services and resources.
- To empower young people, enabling them to gain the respect of their families and community and to promote interaction and moral regeneration.
- To inspire students to be creative and productive through developing their skills, thereby contributing to wealth creation and career development.
Courses
The College of Magic is engaged in performing arts education and training, and specialises in training young people – children from the age of 10 years and upwards – in the art of magic and the allied arts of jugglingJuggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
, ventriloquism
Ventriloquism
Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered "dummy"...
, mime
Mime
The word mime is used to refer to a mime artist who uses a theatrical medium or performance art involving the acting out of a story through body motions without use of speech.Mime may also refer to:* Mime, an alternative word for lip sync...
and clowning.
The unique curriculum consists of six core courses that are structured hierarchically, with each course increasing in complexity, expectations of the learner and skill mastery. In the first three years, students are introduced to the basics of magic including presentation skills, the theory of entertainment and the essential elements of controlling an audience
Audience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
. During the fourth, fifth and sixth years, the curriculum becomes substantially more demanding in terms of the technical requirements and the theoretical aspects of entertaining. Students focus on entertaining children, sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
, close-up magic, stage magic, magic with animals and stage illusions.
The courses are geared to encouraging individuality and innovation; hence workshops are frequently included as part of the course, where students can build their own props and experiment with new ideas. The nature of the courses is instructive, where opportunities for learners to continually “go back” – i.e. to refine, rehearse, improve and become more competent “magical” performers at that particular level – is fundamental. Embedded in each course is a cycle of action that includes:
- demonstration,
- practice,
- presentation,
- reflection,
- refinement,
- practice, and
- presentation.
The syllabus
Syllabus
A syllabus , is an outline and summary of topics to be covered in an education or training course. It is descriptive...
of each course is regularly assessed and upgraded wherever necessary. The required standard of performance is monitored closely so that uniformity and excellence is maintained. Lessons are held on Saturday mornings, and tutorials are arranged at other times directly with the instructors.
Staff
The College is supported by a body of dedicated and motivated individuals. The staff can be segmented into the following categories:1. The Non-Executive Board of Management - The College of Magic is governed by an experienced board of trustees, who are responsible for all decision-making in line with the organisation’s constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
. Both their chairperson and their treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
are graduates of the organisation. The executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
and founder of the College, David Gore, has served the organisation for 27 years.
2. The Administrative Staff - The administrative staff is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation.
3. The Voluntary Teaching Staff - The College started with a teaching staff consisting of three people. It has since grown to include professional magicians, experienced teachers, specialists in the various allied arts, graduates of the College, administrative staff and visiting lectures (local and international). The expertise and nurturing approach offered at the College has continued to grow over the years with staff development courses being run on an ongoing basis. The staff are responsible for all aspects of the course they are teaching, including syllabus development, lesson preparation, one-on-one tutorial sessions and grading of student progress. The teaching staff is the backbone of the organisation, and all 14 members are volunteers.
The Magical Arts Centre
The College of Magic is currently resident in its own premises situated on Lansdowne Road in Claremont Cape Town. These premises were officially opened as the “Magical Arts Centre” (MAC) on February 24, 1995 by the then Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.The MAC consists of a double-story Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
house with a wrap-around porch upstairs and downstairs, and is situated on 1840m2 of property. The building has a very homely feel with a large entrance foyer and a mini-theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
that can comfortably seat forty people. Five rooms are used for teaching purposes and two further rooms are available for tutorials when required. One of the teaching rooms is a fully equipped video studio which provides an excellent medium for training. There are sound and recording facilities available, as well as limited lighting equipment that is used to provide students with an all-round knowledge of show business. There is a kitchen-come-staff room and four offices, one of which doubles as a reception area. There is a library-come-social room where students can socialise and take out books and videos. This library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
is one of the largest magic museums in South Africa and houses five collections of books: the Museum library, the Cape Magician’s Circle Library, the Junior Library, the Senior Library and the extensive Staff Library. There is also a collection of videotapes and DVDs, which form an integral part of the teaching process.
The building has a courtyard in which the College’s animals are kept and two large shipping containers in the back garden. One stores the extensive collection of stage illusions, magical props and costumes; the second is a fully equipped workshop for the students, and was developed through the sponsorship of the Old Mutual
Old Mutual
Old Mutual plc is an international long-term savings group. Established in 1845 in South Africa, it is now a FTSE100 listed company operating in 33 countries.-History:...
Foundation.
Challenges
While the organisation’s human resourcesHuman resources
Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
is by far its most valuable asset
Asset
In financial accounting, assets are economic resources. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset...
, there is a desperate need to consolidate and develop its physical resources:
- A substantial amount of money is outstanding on the existing building, placing considerable strain on the organisation’s cash reserves.
- While the building itself has been extensively restored, many necessary items and features are still missing.
- Space is at a premium, with the College struggling to accommodate its current student body, project-participants and visitors.
The Solution
On Tuesday March 13, 2007 The College of Magic (007-517 NPO) launched a capital fundraising campaign, entitled “13 Magical Milestones”. The campaign target has been set at 1.3 million South African RandSouth African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
(approx. $186,000 US Dollars), and will cover the costs of constructing and furnishing the “Imagination Centre and Secret Garden” development; necessary extensive renovations to the existing building and grounds; and the amount owing on the building.
The SARMOTI Grant
In 1997 the Siegfried & RoySiegfried & Roy
Siegfried & Roy are two German-American former entertainers who became known for their appearances with white lions and white tigers....
SARMOTI Grant was established enabling disadvantaged young people to join the college and experience the world of magic. Delivered in person by their emissary and coordinator, Lynette Chappell, the Siegfried & Roy SARMOTI Grant heralded a new era for the College of Magic.
Called the Magic in the Community project, it allows a group of students to be transported for weekly lessons from their destitute homes in the Cape Flats to the fantasy-fulfilling world of the college. It is through the generosity of people such as Siegfried & Roy that these young people are able to escape their hardships and explore their imagination.
College of Magic Film Documentary
In 2007, director Daniel Roth filmed a feature length documentary entitled "Do You Believe In Magic?" on the College of Magic. The film follows the lives of students Lesley and Mfundo as they struggle to realize their dream of winning the school's annual competition in order to advance to the annual World Teenage Magic Championship in Las Vegas."Do You Believe In Magic?" premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles on February 9, 2008, and it was also selected for the 2008 International Film Festival of South Africa. For more information, please visit www.doyoubelieveinmagic.net.