In her bilingual address at the Opening Ceremony of the 39th National Arts Festival on Wednesday 26 June, premier of the Eastern Cape Noxolo Kiviet announced new funding donations and officially declared the festival open.
In her bilingual address at the Opening Ceremony of the 39th National Arts Festival on Wednesday 26 June, premier of the Eastern Cape Noxolo Kiviet announced new funding donations and officially declared the festival open.
"We are awakening the giant that we put to sleep last year," Kiviet said.
The surprise of the evening was the announcement that the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) will be donating R11.5 million to the National Arts Festival for the next 12 months, the single largest donation to the Festival in the history of its existence.
26 June is also the anniversary of the signing of the Freedom Charter at Kliptown in 1958.
"From that long walk in 1955 to now in 2013, the journey has not yet ended. We are a nation that still has the enormous responsibility of ensuring that every child in this country will have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument or have the opportunity to paint or stand in front of an audience to read his/her own poetry," Kiviet said, expressing the need for education in the arts.
Contributions to the arts were also rewarded at the Opening Ceremony, the Eastern Cape Arts and Cultural Awards being made to the following recipients:
- Language – Ncwayiba Ntombifuthi
- Literature – Professor TM Jordan
- Documentary – Lusindiso Mzimase
- Film – Bonganjalo Marala
- Dance – Simphiwe Bhotile
- Drama – Mandla Mbothwe
- Individual Musician – Mutisile Rosi
- Music Group – Ntokozo Gospel Group
- Craft – Thembeka Metele
- Visual Arts – Leon du Preez
- Cultural Tourism Staged – Ngxingxolo Cultural Village
- Cultural Tourism Authentic – Mehloding Horse and Hiking Trail
- Exceptional Contribution – Carol Wynne Baker-Hofmeyer
- Exceptional Contribution – Selwyn Arends
- Life Time Achievements:
- Sizwe Zako for Music
- Prefessor BB Mkonto for Literature
- Special Award – Zolani Mkiva for Poetry
