Arts and Culture sponsors 2016 National Arts Festival
The Department of Arts and Culture is a proud sponsor of the 2016 National Arts Festival to open on 29 June 2016 at the Guy Butler Theatre in the Monument building in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. The festival which runs for a period of 11 days is supported under the Department of Arts and Culture’s Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy (MGE) that seeks to unleash the economic potential of the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector towards job creation, nation building and social cohesion.
“The festival now in its 42nd year continues to draw and develop audiences, thus creating a number of job opportunities and building markets for the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector that brings together artists and audiences from different backgrounds and cultures. The sector has always produced prophetic voices, pioneers, visionaries and independent thinkers who have been at the forefront of articulating the aspirations and hopes for a united country and free society”, said Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi.
The Department of Arts and Culture has signed a three years agreement with the festival organisers and committed an amount of R 17 Million. The National Arts Festival is one of many annual festivals supported through the MGE strategy across the country which includes both small and large scale festivals such as: Mangaung Cultural Festival (MACUFE) in Free State; Cape Town International Jazz Festival; Diamonds and Dorings Festival in the Northern Cape, Marula Festival in Limpopo and Buyela’khaya Festival in Easter Cape, among others.
The Festival programme is comprised of drama, dance, physical theatre, comedy, opera, music, jazz, visual art exhibitions, film, student theatre, street theatre, lectures, craft fair and workshops.
The Minister and Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture will lead the opening ceremony and media launch respectively.
Part one: Media launch
Date: 29 June 2016
Venue: Makana Council Chambers, Grahamstown
Time: 14h00
Part two: Opening ceremony
Date: 29 June 2016
Venue: Guy Butler Theatre (Settlers Monument, Grahamstown)
Time: 17h00
RSVPs:
Mthuthuzeli Nqumba
Cell: 074 478 7681
E-mail: mthuthuzelin@dac.gov.za
Enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
Lisa Combrinck
Cell: 082 821 4886
