Founded 38 years ago, the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown is South Africa's most vibrant multi-arts event. It attracts more 350 live performances in music, dance, theatre, visual art as well as many of the new hybrid art forms which are a significant part of contemporary societies.
Founded 38 years ago, the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown is South Africa's most vibrant multi-arts event. It attracts more 350 live performances in music, dance, theatre, visual art as well as many of the new hybrid art forms which are a significant part of contemporary societies.
Every July, artists and audiences from all of South Africa's nine provinces converge in Grahamstown together with artists and audiences from several countries across the globe. During these 11 days, this quiet city becomes completely transformed. There is a pulsating energy that bursts out from cafés, community halls, alleyways and street corners.
During the Festival, Grahamstown becomes a magnet for corporate sponsors who are looking to expand their marketing footprint to newer audiences.
Politicians who also want to be seen, heard and be associated with the glitterati of the arts world find themselves sitting side by side with everyone else in the many festival cafés. Intellectuals will sip coffee till late at night dissecting themes, plots and characters in the several dozens of plays that they have seen. Media representatives and curious journalists will snoop around every corner looking for various angles to write about the festival. Late night revellers will chill against the backdrop of jazz, reggae, rock, pop and sometimes even in late night classical soirées.
For a young student this sudden cultural explosion can be so very overwhelming and yet, at the same time, it provides Rhodes students with one of the finest opportunities of immersing themselves in a world of curious reflection and imagination. Through the ages, the arts have always been a powerful mirror of the pulse, vibrancy and intellectual capacity of a nation.
The National Arts Festival in Grahamstown is undoubtedly recognised in the international arts arena as one of the most important cultural and artistic events on the African continent. Each year, a large number of international producers descend on the city to look for South African productions to import to their countries. Most interestingly, they also buy the ideas, creativity and leadership for which South African artists are increasing being celebrated.
On behalf of the National Arts Festival, I extend a warm welcome to all the first year students who will be commencing an exciting journey at Rhodes University this year to attend the festival this July and to drink from our fountain of creativity and inspiration, and to experience why we have become so acclaimed as the world's second largest annual arts festival. For more information see www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.
Ismail Mahomed, Director of the National Arts Festival
