According to Pieter Swart, Director: Principal Gifts and Transformational Giving at the Development and Alumni Relations Division, students who have been identified by Bursaries and Loans Division will receive funds to help with their student fees.

Swart said the campaign was a huge success and was well-received among alumni, Stellenbosch residents and friends of the University. The campaign was also among the winners at the annual Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards, scooping a silver award in the fundraising category. These Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of specialists and practitioners in marketing, advancement and communication in the higher education sector in Southern Africa.

"We are so grateful to everyone who have made a contribution! Your generous donation will surely ease the stress of outstanding university fees for students in the missing middle category who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic."

From August 2020 until March 2021, artworks were displayed at a number of sites around the town of Stellenbosch. Aptly named – Masked Masterpieces – masks were superimposed on famous South African artworks that were displayed outdoors in supersized format, providing a powerful visual reflection of the challenges of our time.

The artists' stories were displayed on plaques alongside the artworks, as well as information about the artworks, where the original artworks could be viewed and how to make a donation by way of a SnapScan code or bank transfer.

These art installations were entirely funded by the private sector: the Beck Family Philanthropy, the Fuchs Foundation, Investec, the Norval Foundation, the Rupert Art Foundation and Strauss & Co.

"The works became well-known sites to remind us of our great artistic heritage. A Stellenbosch resident who is an avid cyclist created his own virtual tour and challenged the cyclists in Stellenbosch to visit the sites. Selfies were posted on social media, a limited print run on A3 posters were given to and sold to individuals, sets were also sent to SA embassies overseas and displayed in their public areas. Facemasks were printed with the images of the works and given to donors and friends of SU to thank them for their support, the Masked Masterpieces will also be seen about as the material has been recycled into large shopping bags," Swart said.

"At the start of the lockdown in South Africa, our Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, made it clear that the University has two overriding priorities: to ensure that students can successfully complete their academic year and to maintain the sustainability of our institution. This initiative, run by the Development and Alumni Relations Division, in collaboration with our partners in the private sector, was therefore in direct response to his statement," he added.

Swart said the initiative was "adopted" and further promoted by Visit Stellenbosch, the tourism body. "It was used in their campaigns during lockdown, they encouraged the fundraising drive and the mayor started off the campaign with a photo of herself next to one of the artworks, making the first donation. She even requested a three-month extension of the project as she wanted it in Stellenbosch when overseas visitors could visit again."

Click here for a video of the Masked Masterpieces initiative.