The Evangelical Lutheran Church Arts and Crafts Centre at Rorkes Drift was established in 1963 by a Swedish couple Ulla and Peder Govenuis, who were Swedish artists.
 
Their idea was to start an art and craft centre for black africans which could provide artistic and craft and employment as well as development of african art. Especially Zulu women could become economically independent.
 
Their idea grew into the only art school for black people from Southern Africa during the apartheid era.
 
It did succeed in creating and producing high quality work for the market, generating employment and developing economic self sufficiency for the local community. Rorke's Drift as it has become known, established a reputation as a leading Fine Art School in the 1970's and played a key role in training many of Southern Africa's renowned Black Artists.