Theatre Benevolent Fund coffers swell thanks to National
Arts Festival and Standard Bank.
For the second consecutive year, audiences at the National
Arts Festival dipped their hands in their wallets to show appreciation to South
African artists who can no longer perform due to illness or infirmity.
The National Arts Festival, Grahamstown and the Theatre
Benevolent Fund (TBF) partner on the first Monday of the Festival to raise the
profile of the TBF and support the work of the Fund. This year, audiences at
the National Arts Festival contributed R54,000 towards the Theatre Benevolent
Fund and the Standard Bank provided a matching contribution to raise the total
amount to R108,000.
“We extend our appreciation to our generous audiences who
have demonstrated their compassion for the artists who have entertained and
inspired them over the years,” said the Festival’s Artistic Director Ismail
Mahomed, when he jointly presented a cheque with Standard Bank arts sponsorship
manager, Mandie van der Spuy to the Theatre Benevolent Fund.
“We are also grateful to our sponsor Standard Bank for
matching the contribution raised by audiences at the Festival. This is a
wonderful indicator that the Festival, our audiences, our sponsor and the
Theatre Benevolent Fund have a shared vision and passion to allow artists to
enjoy their dignity even when they are in their twilight years” he added.
The TBF is a welfare and humanitarian fund that helps
maintain the dignity of professional performers after they have taken their
last bow and the curtain has fallen on their working lives. The Fund supports
individuals who have been connected to the performing arts on a professional
basis, and who now find themselves in financial difficulties due to old age or
ill health, by providing care to them in the form of monthly financial grants;
donations for funeral expenses; assistance with medical expenses; placement in
care centres or old age homes.
“The Theatre Benevolent Fund was overwhelmed by the
generosity of Standard Bank, in agreeing to match all donations made by the
public and the National Arts Festival during the 2013 Festival, effectively
doubling the amount. Thank you to everyone who contributed, especially Standard
Bank. Reaching six figures seems almost too good to be true, and this has been
a wonderful display of caring for our beneficiaries. We have so many needy
people to support and rely totally on donations to keep going.” said Peter
Terry, from the Theatre Benevolent Fund.
“The TBF fulfils a vital need in the arts community and we
are pleased to be able to make a contribution towards the improvement of the
lives of many who brought us entertainment over the years,” responded van der
Spuy.
For more info on the Theatre Benevolent Fund and how to
help, see www.tbf-sa.co.za
The 40th edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown
will take place from July 3 to 13, 2014. See www.nationalartsfestival.co.za,
or the National Arts Festival Grahamstown on Facebook, or @artsfestival on
Twitter, for more information.
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank,
The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape Government,
Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press and M Net.
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