The Department of Arts and Culture supports the 2014 Cape Town Carnival
The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) is proud to announce its support for the Cape Town Carnival. The Department of Arts and Culture has supported the event since its inception in 2009. The theme for this year is “Imagine”. The Carnival will take place on the 15 March 2014, in Cape Town.
The Cape Town Carnival projects an African identity and celebrates the transformative power of creativity. This year’s event focuses on projecting cultural diversity and the creativity that brings all the people of South Africa together. The Department of Arts and Culture considers its support as part of nation building and nurturing a culture of inclusivity. The Carnival was selected as an official project of the World Design Capital 2014.
“The creative city is one in which communities work together in peace and harmony and new forms of creativity emerge. In this way, new works of art come to life, as people together celebrate their unity in diversity,” says the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Joe Phaahla.
The Carnival comes a month before we celebrate our 20 years of Freedom and Democracy. It strengthens the spirit of unity and Ubuntu, as communities and individuals work together to advance our economies and societies, nurture African culture and build a better life for all.
The Cape Town Carnival is a national flagship event. It is part of the Department’s Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) strategy which seeks to increase and enhance the economic contribution of the arts. In 2012/2013, the Carnival involved over 1.500 performers from 47 communities and was attended by an estimated number of 55.000 people, creating over 800 jobs. The core of the event created 150 jobs, of which 76% were opportunities for young people, across a wide range of creative, technical, marketing and events management areas. Furthermore, 642 jobs were created through the suppliers to the festival.
This year on 15 March 2014, the Fan Walk will become a pedestrian walkway filled with fun, food and folk as carnival-goers enjoy the freedom of their city streets. The parade begins as the sun sets at 7:30 pm and is anticipated to last about 2 hours. The Carnival ends with a party which will feature DJ Fresh and South African super-band Micasa.
Media enquiries:
Lisa Combrinck
E-mail: LisaC@dac.gov.za
Cell: 082 821 4886
