BOOKING OPENED FOR NAF

Bookings for the 38th National Arts Festival, running from June 28 to July 8 in Grahamstown, are now officially open.

On the first morning of booking being open, the national Minister of Arts & Culture, Paul Mashatile, and the Director General, Sibusiso Xaba, paid an impromptu visit to the Festival box office in Grahamstown. Both signed up for the Festival's ArtBucks programme; and got tickets for Rhythms of the Eastern Cape, a showcase of Eastern Cape Indigenous Music and Dance.

Last year, 200,771 audience members experienced some of the best South African artistic expression in Grahamstown. “The high demand for tickets in 2011 spanned a range of genres, including music, theatre and dance, demonstrating that the Festival is still seen as a playground for the artistically curious and for audiences who seek out quality performances, regardless of genre,” said Tony Lankester, National Arts Festival CEO.

Audiences can expect no less this year, with the Main, Arena, Fringe and Jazz programmes bursting at the seams with top South African and international talent.

Tickets are available through Computicket. Booking kits are available from selected Standard Bank branches, selected Exclusive Books and Computicket branches. For more information on the programme, accommodation and travel options visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za. Also join the National Arts Festival group on Facebook for all the latest competitions and news, or follow us on Twitter.

The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, City Press and M Net.