Paul Mashatile: Big promises, now what?
Recent comments by Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile promise a shake-up of the institutions that are life-and-death for artists.
Theatre going in the right direction
Reports of the death of stagecraft are exaggerated, says Brent Meersman. He turns the footlights on SA's playmakers who are getting it right.
National Arts Festival 2013: A unified voice
The National Arts Festival, due to be held at the end of June, has released details of its 2013 programme.
Student productions: The antidote to stale theatre experiences
Until you've seen young minds create and execute ideas with limited experience and meagre budgets, your appreciation of art will never be adequate.
The art and work of funny at the festival
David Kibuuka, Johannesburg-based comedian, is a nice-guy funny man. "I don't rip people off in real life - why would I do it in a show?"
Uncovering the lost and exiled kings
Percy Zvomuya finds time during the Arts Festival to make a pilgrimage to Fingo Village and document the graves of obscure Zimbabwean royalty.
Heavyweights take performance art centre stage
It is surprising that this is the first year the category has been officially included on the festival's main programme.
The evolution of love
Anthea Buys was surprised that only two audience members walked out of the opening performance of Steven Cohen's Cradle of Humankind.
A coat of mud creates neutral ground
A cover of traditional material on a European shrine dilutes a perceived power and levels the playing field.
A matter of perspective
A national arts festival is all very well, but do we even agree on what "arts and culture" means in SA, asks Mpho Moshe Matheolane from Grahamstown.
Hunting down words at the festival
There may be no WordFest this year, but the love of language is alive and thriving at this year's National Arts Festival, writes Hailey Gaunt.
Recreating the inhumane spectacle
Brett Bailey's new work recreates the museums and spectacles in Europe to which millions of people flocked to see "inferior" darker races.
A football philosopher at the festival
Percy Zvomuya meets a football fanatic from Argentina who finds himself in Grahamstown during the National Arts Festival.
State of the Arts: Where is the audience?
The performing arts shouldn't look for audiences in alienating cultural bunkers like the State Theatre. Try outside rather, writes Brent Meersman.
National Arts Festival: The art of survival
For the third year running volunteer students are collaborating with artists and performers with the aim of opening the festival up to everyone.
Grotesque and glamourless: Gritty work of the Fest
They may make it look easy, but trying to earn a living from the theatre is as emotionally draining for performers as it is physically taxing.
Festive free-for-alls
Percy Zvomuya sees merit in the free open-air performances that have become such an important part of the National Arts Festival.
Feeling the freedom of the festival
The Free Thinkers lecture at the National Arts Festival's Think!Fest was not the only place where dialogue and freedom of expression was explored.
Best of the jazz fest
One of the joys of the Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Grahamstown is serendipity. Most gigs are clustered in one venue. Here are the M&G's picks.
Man on a musical mission
He has many awards behind him, but for Andre Petersen his career purpose lies in faith, love and learning.
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