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Sunday, August 23, 2015

NAF CALLS FOR PROPOSALS FOR 2016



Main Programme Deadline: September 11, 2015
Fringe Programme Deadline: January 22, 2016

The National Arts Festival (NAF) is calling for proposals for the 2016 Main programme which runs from June 30 to July 10, 2016.

Artistic Director Ismail Mahomed explains: “We are looking for re-imaginations of classics to bold new premieres and the NAF is a dynamic platform that gives artists the opportunity to creatively experiment and engage with the human spirit. With productions that are informed by our complex and contested histories to productions that can inspire our collective optimism about contemporary society, the National Arts Festival Main programme is a celebration of how artists choose to comment and critique our society in compelling and creative ways.”

He continues, “The National Arts Festival originated in 1974 as Shakespeare festival and with the 400th anniversary of his death next year, will artists choose to make the 2016 Festival a memorable year in which Shakespeare is buried for good or reincarnated in new ways? Will the 60th anniversary of the Women's March to Pretoria inspire women writers, directors and other artists to dominate the 2016 Main programme? Or, with the 40th anniversary next year of the Soweto Uprising, will artists create work that is politically inspired to challenge current realities? The NAF call for proposals is an open canvas. It gives artists the opportunity to shape our cultural conversations."

Artists, companies and presenters can download a proposal brief from the Festival’s website. Proposals must reach the Artistic Director no later than September 11, 2015. All proposals must be submitted as per the proposal brief that is available on the Festival’s website www.nationalartsfestival.co.za

Enquiries should be addressed to the Artistic Director, Ismail Mahomed, on 046 603 1103 or by email at ismail@nationalartsfestival.co.za

Winners of the Standard Bank Ovation Awards will receive written invitations to submit proposals for the 2016 Arena programme.

Fringe applications will be available in October 2015 and registration will close on January 22, 2016.

Forms and information booklets will be available on-line at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za. Enquiries should be addressed to the Fringe Manager, Zikhona Nweba, on 046 603 1177 or by email at zee@nationalartsfestival.co.za.

The National Arts Festival is grateful to its presenting sponsors: Standard Bank, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, the Department of Arts and Culture, and the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture. City Press and M-Net are the NAF's media partners.