The Municipal council has received a request from the National Arts Festival to develop a by-law to secure the advertising of the sponsors for all the festivals taking place in Makana.
The Municipal council has received a request from the National Arts Festival to develop a by-law to secure the advertising of the sponsors for all the festivals taking place in Makana.
This request was outlined in a recent report from the Director of Community and Social Services to be considered by the Social Services, Community Empowerment and Protection Services (SCEP) portfolio committee.
According to the report, the National Arts Festival makes an estimated contribution of approximately R51-million to the city’s gross domestic product.
But the Festival requires an enormous cash injection from various funders and corporate sponsors each year.
The report reads: “In today’s highly brand sensitive world, big corporate sponsors of events require some sort of protection from those in whom they invest.
“Such protection has now become standard and many more sponsors would not even contemplate investing in an event of scale unless such protection is offered and guaranteed.”
The report also states that a by-law would be necessary to “restrict and control all outdoor advertising and branded signage erected in Grahamstown in areas visible from public space and pavements”.
The by-laws will not restrict signage and advertising used by local businesses in the usual course of their business operations, displayed on an approved advertising hoarding, or any sign displaying the name of a business erected permanently on a solid sign.
However, the by-law will restrict any other signage and temporary advertising specifically placed and designed to promote a brand, product or company and any signage bearing logos or names of companies or products which are not commercial partners of the festival in question.
“The proposed law will go a long way in assisting in Makana’s ability to attract corporate sponsorship for events that provide valuable economic benefit for the city,” the report read.
The enforcement of this by-law entails establishing a joint committee between Makana Municipality and the specific festival taking place.
This committee would then meet to consider any advertising signage that has been erected and would have power to instruct the removal of such sigage.
National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester, said that this by-law is specifically a festival and special events by-law.
He said that Grahamstown is a festival city which hosts festivals such as SciFest Africa and the National Schools Festival.
‘’Each event comes with specific sponsors and we need to make sure they keep sponsoring.” Lankester said the advantage of the by-law would therefore make Grahamstown more festival-friendly and possibly attract new sponsors.
He added that similiar bylaws have been implemented by other cities and therefore we need to enforce and refine existing by-laws to assist economic growth.
He also added that it will take some time for the by-law to be tabled and approved by council. The SCEP portfolio committee has recommended that a progress report on this matter be presented at the next portfolio committee meeting.
