1 August 2006
Gauteng communities are set to benefit from skills development during
preparations for the second Gauteng Carnival.
Held under the theme 'Pale Ya Rona' (telling our story), the provincial
carnival will take place in Johannesburg on Saturday, 9 September 2006, said
the Gauteng MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Barbara Creecy.
Over 3 000 participants from over Gauteng are expected to parade in the 3,5
km route of the carnival spectacle from the National School of the Arts in
Braamfontein to Newtown on the day.
"This year's carnival is the flagship project of the creative industries
strategy launched in March this year," said Creecy.
"It offers us an ideal opportunity to ensure that artistic resources,
training and experience in staging major cultural events are transferred to
communities throughout the province," said Creecy.
The MEC said that carnivals combine performing and visual arts into a
celebration of collective identity and community aspiration throughout the
world. "In Brazil and throughout the Caribbean carnivals have proved to be
major tourist attractions bringing in millions of dollars in revenue," she
said.
The parade on 9 September 2006 represents months of preparation including
drumming and music workshops, design, costume and mask making, welding and
marshal training.
The capacity building programs are set to build a carnival of international
standard. Next year Gauteng will be hosting the international carnival
conference after delegates from across the world visit Gauteng later this year
to observe our carnival as a precursor to the event.
"We invite the people of Gauteng to come and revel in the Pale Ya Rona
Carnival," said Creecy.
For more information contact:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Tel: (011) 355 2578
Cell: 083 507 8068
Issued by: Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng
Provincial Government
1 August 2006
