The involvement of the Eastern Cape government as a major sponsor has contributed a new face to Africa’s premier arts festival.
The Eastern cape government has committed a total of R9m per year for three years to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture spokesperson Masiza Mazizi said it has been a great way of profiling the province.
Mazizi said: “The festival was a great way to fulfill our brief to promote arts and culture and the Department’s MEC Nosimo Balindlela would propose to the Eastern Cape cabinet that the sponsorship be continued.
Festival director Lynette Marais said the involvement of the government saved the festival in 2002.
Marais said the involvement of the government had brought an element of credibility and ownership to the people of the Eastern Cape.
She said: “The festival is there to reflect the society and it is gratifying to see the audience of the festival change and more young people come to it.”
International promoter Jan Ryan said: “There has been a large black presence in works performed and the audiences attending those shows.”
Ryan said she hoped the festival would continue its growth and become a Pan African festival showcasing works from all of Africa.
Festival Committee Chairperson Mannie Manim echoed her sentiments and said the input of the Eastern Cape government brought a “new consciousness of local culture to the festival”.
A government sponsored show depicting a turbulent period in the Amaxhosa nation’s history, Thuthula, was a great success at this year’s festival despite raising the ire of the Amaxhosa traditional leaders who complained that they were not consulted about the production of the show.
This was smoothed over when the traditional leaders and government representatives were invited to view the show. However, The Studio, a township venue for government sponsored performances, had thin audiences.
The Studio co-ordinator Xolani Sibuta said he was unhappy with levels of attendance.
“Next year we will do much more marketing to attract both locals and tourists to our shows,” said Sibuta.
But despite these successes and failures, Festival Director Lynette Marais said: “Some shows did not do well but it is a part of a growth process and we will target those shows in the future.” –ECN Cuewire