GRAHAMSTOWN FESTIVAL FRINGE REGISTRATION

National Arts Festival Fringe registration goes on-line.

Leaping itself into the technological era, the National Arts Festival is allowing on-line registration for Fringe participants for the first time. Artists who have access to the Internet can now fill in their registration forms and submit them directly to the Festival Office simply by logging onto www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.

With the deadline for registration a mere three weeks away, the Festival Office hopes this innovation will make the registration process quicker and more efficient.

The closing date for registration for both visual and performance art is February 20, 2009. Fringe Manager, Kate Axe Davies, urges artists wishing to participate in the 2009 Festival to get their forms in timeously to avoid losing out on being part of the Festival experience. “We have already registered some exciting productions; and many visual art spaces had been booked prior to the Christmas break.

The Fringe Film Festival, now only two years old, has been eliciting queries from young South African film-makers and their counterparts overseas; and, the Cuervo Music Room is attracting interest from a host of emerging and well-known South African bands. So the stage is set for another fascinating exploration into the arts – Grahamstown-style.

Register on-line now – save reams of paper, forget the courier, and experience the ease. www.nationalartsfestival.co.za

For those who prefer the old fashioned methods of communication, detailed info booklets and forms are available as downloads on the website or can be emailed or posted to you. There are also a number of outlets around the country that distribute hard copies of the registration packages on behalf of the Festival. Contact the Fringe Office on 046 603 1103 or email fringe@nationalartsfestival.co.za.

Workshops on Festival participation will be held in Port Elizabeth on February 13, in Gauteng at Wits University on February 16 and in the North West Province (Mmabana Arts Foundation) and Mpumalanga (Witbank Civic Theatre) on February 17. These workshops will deal with the practicalities of participating on the Fringe and will be interactive sessions where artists can find answers and guidelines on all aspects of Fringe participation. Full details will be made available shortly – watch this space.

The National Arts Festival, now in its 35th, year has proved its sustainability and has grown to be one of the leading arts festivals in southern Africa. 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.

The 35th National Arts Festival runs from July 2 to 11 and promises yet another bumper package of cutting edge, fun and funky stuff. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be part of the wow-factor in Grahamstown this winter.