Difference between revisions of "National Arts Festival"
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= Awards at the Festival = | = Awards at the Festival = | ||
Revision as of 22:04, 2 August 2023
The annual National Arts Festival in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) is the longest running annual arts festival in South Africa and one of the largest in the country - and even in the world. It is a Partner Project of the Grahamstown Foundation.
Also known as the National Festival of the Arts, but best known to everyone, and most often simply referred to as, the Grahamstown Festival, the event has - for many years since its inception in 1974 - been officially named according to its sponsor at the particular time, e.g. the Five Roses National Arts Festival (1974-1983) and the Standard Bank National Arts Festival (1984-2001).
Since 2002, however, it has become known simply as the National Arts Festival (or NAF), (through often still the Grahamstown National Arts Festival).
(On 29 June 2018, Grahamstown was officially renamed to Makhanda, in memory of Xhosa warrior and prophet Makhanda ka Nxele).
Contents
History
The Festival began in the city of Grahamstown in 1974 as a project of the 1820 Settlers Foundation (later called the Grahamstown Foundation) and has since grown to be one of the leading arts festivals in southern Africa and in the world. In 2002, the Festival was renamed the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown and is now an independent Section 21 company. Its objectives are to deliver excellence; encourage innovation and development in the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South African artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international artists; and build new audiences.
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020, the management decided that the 46th National Arts Festival would be a virtual, online, festival, as response to the restrictions posed by the Coronavirus lockdown in South Africa and the devastating impact on the theatre artists, audiences and industry in general. Held from 25 June to 5 July, the portal to the experience was the NAC website, from where audiences were able to experience streamed, live performances, pre-recorded concerts, virtual, immersive exhibitions, poetry and stage readings, interactive workshops and webinars.
Programme
The National Arts Festival has been structured around a Main Festival Programme and a Fringe Festival Programme.
Main Festival Programme
The Main Festival Programme is a curated programme. Over the years, the Main Festival Programme has featured several disciplines or aspects, including:
- Dance
- Theatre
- Exhibitions
- Film Festival
- Jazz Festival
- Music
- New Music
- Street Theatre
- Student Theatre Festival (also called the National Arts Festival of Student Theatre)
- The Studio
- Winter School
The Fringe Festival Programme
The Fringe Festival Programme is an open festival. Any artists are invited to apply to perform or exhibit. During the run of the Fringe Festival, the programme has showcased several art-forms, including:
- Cabaret
- Children's Arts Festival
- Children's Choice
- Dance and Physical Theatre
- Exhibitions
- Music
- Music Theatre
- Theatre
- Movies
- Tours
- Wordfest
Other projects, sub-festivals and events
Think!Fest
Think!Fest is a series of seminars, discussions and debates that are hosted during the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Masicule
Masicule, an annual event that was created by the National Arts Festival to celebrate voice – and the city of Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) itself.
Venues
The National Arts Festival is presented in a wide range of spaces in and around Makhanda, including venues at the 1820 Settlers Monument, Rhodes University theatres and lecture theatres, school halls, churches, church halls and chapels, museum galleries, hotels, community halls, cinemas and restaurants.
Awards at the Festival
There are several awards associated with the National Arts Festival, including the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards (presented by the committee of the National Arts Festival to recognise emerging young South African artists); the Sanlam Literary Award; and the Ovation Awards (which are awards given to productions on the Fringe Festival Programme).
Sources
http://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Arts_Festival
Boltt J. Fire damage to the 1820 Settlers' National Monument. Grahamstown Foundation Media Office, April, 1996.
Butler G. 1820 Settlers Monument Neville, T. More lasting than bronze: a story of 1820 Settlers.
(NELM)
http://www.foundation.org.za/monument/index.php
Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Arts_Festival
National Arts Festival Souvenir Programme, 2003
Pacey, B. 2011. 'The role of arts festivals in developing and promoting street theatre in South Africa', South African Theatre Journal, 25:3, 227-244
See also Festival and Grahamstown Foundation
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