A new partnership between the National Arts
Festival, Grahamstown, and the Mandela Bay Development Agency brings benefits
to artists from Port Elizabeth and surrounds.
Artists from Port Elizabeth and its
surrounding areas are set to walk under a bigger spotlight at this year’s
National Arts Festival, the result of an exciting partnership that has been
brokered between the Festival and the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), an
entity of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM). Central to the
partnership is a strategic relationship that will offer increased visibility
and capacity-building opportunities for Port Elizabeth artists participating at
the Festival.
The recently revamped Little Theatre at the
Athenaeum will also be one of the beneficiaries of the project, which will
consider ways in which Fringe productions visiting the Festival can also
present their work at the small intimate venue in the Athenaeum.
The partnership between the Festival and
the MBDA will enable 50 musicians from the Port Elizabeth Youth Violin Project
a dynamic opportunity of participating in a “Festival Encounter”. The young
violinists will be scheduled for a performance at the Festival and be given the
opportunity of attending other Festival concerts. They will also attend a
workshop led by leading Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Samson Diamond
(2010) and other musicians. The workshops will offer guidance on playing
techniques and life-skills that are essential for young people who intend to
pursue a career in the music sector.
In addition, at least one major arts
project from Port Elizabeth will be presented on the Festival’s Main programme.
Details about this production will be released when the Festival officially
announces its programme in April.
“With so many on-going inspiring cultural
developments in the Mandela Bay, this partnership is crucial to profile the
creative economies of Port Elizabeth and its surrounding areas to a captive
audience of passionate art lovers who come via Port Elizabeth to the Festival
from all over South Africa and the world. This is a major step towards
positioning Port Elizabeth as a mainstream player in the South African arts
sector. I’m delighted that the Festival and the MBDA can work together with a
shared vision”, said the Festival’s Artistic Director, Ismail Mahomed.
Planning and Development Manager of the
Mandela Bay Development Agency, Dorelle Sapere said: “The MBDA is thrilled to
be partnering with the National Arts Festival. It marks the culmination of a
three year programme of investment in the Arts, through the implementation of
Route 67, a public art driven tourism infra-structure project. The Agency is
committed to supporting the growth of the creative economy of the Metro, as a
tool for urban renewal and place making. Being part of a world class event such
as the National Arts Festival is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the
creative talent in Nelson Mandela Bay.”
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by
Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape
Government, Department of Arts and Culture, City Press and M Net.
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