Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT)

Contact: +27 23 0070 178 | info@pactrust.co.za
Website
The PACT artists will be showing their work at ONS Botanicals and Eatery at 34 Church Street

The Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT) works to support and uplift the communities of Prince Albert, Klaarstroom and Leeu-Gamka. Through education, skills development and cultural projects, PACT creates opportunities and platforms for people who have historically had fewer opportunities. By encouraging creativity, learning and enterprise, the organisation helps individuals and communities grow, share their stories and build sustainable futures. For this year’s Open Studios, PACT is proud to support three local artists, giving them the opportunity to share their work with visitors and be part of Prince Albert’s vibrant creative community.

Artists participating at PACT: Louis Schoeman, Elcado Blom and Ethan Martin

Louis Schoeman is an artist living in Prince Albert. In his hands the oridinary becomes extraordinary… He makes things with his hands, often using old or discarded materials he finds around town or out in the veld. Louis grew up surrounded by making and mending, and he is the nephew of the well-known Karoo folk artist Jan Schoeman, better known as Outa Lappies. From him he learned the philosophy of “making something from nothing” and much of his art work gives a second, magical, life to objects. Louis’s work reflects the spirit of the Karoo—resourceful, practical and full of quiet stories from the place he calls home.

Elcado Blom is a Karoo-based artist working primarily in oils, focusing on portraiture, still life, and the landscapes of the Karoo. Born in Leeu Gamka, he began drawing at the age of seven and completed his first painting at fourteen. After leaving school early due to personal circumstances, Blom continued to develop his practice independently, painting and drawing daily.

A defining moment in his career came in 2019, when he began a three-year mentorship with South African artist Louis Jansen van Vuuren, an experience he describes as a profound honour. Blom’s work is rooted in the quiet everyday life of small Karoo towns and has found collectors both locally and internationally. Within his own community, his practice has become a source of growing recognition and respect, something he’s incredibly proud of.

Ethan Martin is a graphic designer, photographer and artist from Prince Albert. He has worked with PACT since 2023, combining his love of art and community. Alongside his creative work, Ethan volunteers as an art teacher in PACT’s Speel & Leer afternoon programme, where he enjoys encouraging young people to explore their creativity.

Art runs in the family – Ethan is the grandson of the well-known Prince Albert artist Hekkie Moos, whose work continues to influence him. While inspired by his grandfather’s legacy, Ethan’s own work focuses strongly on youth, community and the human spirit. He often explores emotion, identity and personal growth through his art.

Ethan enjoys working with powder pastel, which allows him to express colour and feeling in a free and direct way. His artworks include a series inspired by music and musicians, celebrating rhythm, movement and creative expression.