National Arts Festival

The annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (also known by its acronym, NAF), or more colloquially referred to as the Grahamstown Festival) is the largest arts festival in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

Since its inception, it has always been officially named according to its sponsor at the particular time, e.g. the Five Roses National Arts Festival – between 19**- 19**, the Standard Bank National Arts Festival – from 19** -)

History

The Festival began 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.

Projects

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.

Venues

The 1820 Settlers Monument

Also referred to as the 1820 Settlers National Monument, this is a memorial with a purpose The Monument was built to commemorate the contributions made by English-speaking Settlers to South Africa. It is unlike any other monument because, since its opening on 13 July 1974, this superbly equipped building has been a centre of creative thought and activity.

The Monument has become a meeting place for all South Africans. It was built to commemorate a worthy heritage and to encourage us to look forward with hope.

Amid reminders of the past, the building provides facilities for use by all South Africans, in particular activities which encourage the ideals of freedom of speech, social interaction and the use of English as a contact language.

This concept of a living Monument led to the establishment of highly successful educational and cultural projects. The Monument is now used by well over 200 000 people a year from all South African groups.

The 1820 Settlers Monument Theatre or Guy Butler Theatre

Rebuilt after the fire it was renamed the Guy Butler Theatre

This is one of the largest theatres in South Africa, with excellent acoustics, computerised lighting equipment, comfortable seating for 939, air conditioning and an orchestra pit to accommodate an orchestra of 50. Seating is flexible, thus there is Theatre Seating: 939 Dinners/Restaurant style seating: 400, Cocktails parties, etc : 1000, Orchestra pit for orchestra of 50

Awards at the Festival

Ovation Awards

Awards given to productions on the Festival Fringe.

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)

For more information

See http://www.foundation.org.za/monument/index.php

See also the Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Arts_Festival

See also Festival and Grahamstown Foundation

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