The Hilton Arts Festival, running from
September 15 to 17, would not be functional if it were not for the generous
support of a myriad cash and in-kind sponsors.
Festival Director Sue Clarence elaborates:
“Throughout ages art has only survived through patronage and support. If it
wasn’t for sponsorship the festival simply would not exist.
“We are hugely indebted to our wonderful
and loyal sponsors: Hilton College whose support is in the form of a sponsor in
kind offering rent-free use of its property and buildings; Grindrod Bank pledge
a cash donation which enables the main theatre to function; Black Coffee who,
in association with DWR, provide all lighting, sound and staging for the nine
different venues and for art tents. This includes the main theatre which owns
very little of its own equipment. Theirs is an amazing feat of generosity and
an ongoing invaluable contribution. Their staff go the extra mile all the time
working phenomenally long hours; Tiso Black Star Group (Formerly Times Media) –
the festival’s media partner and responsible for so much of the advertising and
the printing of the hard copy programme, and Assitej for funding children’s
theatre.
“Of course, the list is more extensive than
our headline supporters: other sponsors who also help to complete the picture
are PWC; SAB (Castle Lite) providing the marquee and bar infrastructure;
Maritzburg Sun and all KZN Caxton papers for local media support; Zultrans for
free transport of sets; Bidvest Car hire for free vehicles to and from
airports; BASA who contributes to the PR costs; Indwe Risk Management and the KZN
Dept of Arts & Culture.
“And the glue which binds the festival
together are the fabulous hands-on sponsors: Redlands Hotel for accommodating
out of towners; Sappi for craft market shopping bags and dust bins; KZN
Weddings and Functions and Loud Crowd”
“With the generosity of all the above, the
festival manages to break even …just! With a hypothetical injection of R1.5
million a year – over and above what we have already – the festival would look
very different. We could enjoy a massive reduction in ticket prices - 2017 sees
a slight decrease in prices … we are trying! ... a drastically reduced ticket
price would make the festival more accessible to more audiences and allow
existing audiences to see more.
“Also, further support would allow for the
underwriting of the Jongosi programme for schools in depressed socio-economic
areas to benefit from free participation.
“Potential sponsors – in cash or kind –
will have a package tailor-made to their needs. The festival is very flexible
and open in their relationship with their sponsors and partners and is acutely
aware that sponsorship is a two-way process, so the festival takes pride in
providing great leverage opportunities in whichever field the sponsor requests
– for example, the festival currently has one sponsor who enjoys the
opportunity to host potential clients in congenial surroundings. Another
sponsor enjoys the opportunity to access the top pupils at Hilton College to
introduce them to possible career opportunities in the world of finance and
accounting. And, of course, sponsors are exposed to 20,000 festival visitors
every year, an association with Hilton College, and a national publicity reach
across a spectrum of media.
“The festival also offers its sponsors
un-buyable experiences: such as meeting the performers, backstage tours,
watching the intensity of a final dress rehearsal and the opportunity to create
bespoke events with performers, artists, festival participants and sponsors
clients.
“To give some background, the event was
born late one cold, wet and windy night in Grahamstown in a venue called The
Old Gaol … in the yard where the hangman’s scaffold used to stand! The first
event took place a short two months thereafter. There were six productions,
performing twice each in the main theatre. There was a beer tent and I ran a
tea station … on the verandah, with a kettle (not even an urn) and polystyrene
cups! That was now 25 years ago and we are all older and wiser,” reminisces
Clarence.
“Now the festival’s primary aim is to bring
the pick of SA theatre to KZN for the weekend and to support this with quality
music, visual arts, crafts and a convivial atmosphere. It also strives to
support all performances with the best possible technical support and
personnel.
“It’s not all fun! The hard work that goes
on behind the scenes serves as a breeding ground for developing new young
technicians, artists, playwrights, and actors and provides a unique opportunity
to introduce the next generation to the magic of theatre – after all they are
the audiences of the future.
“The Festival is not just about
entertainment: every year a growing number of schoolchildren take part in the
activities – whether as a group attending the Festival for the weekend or to
take part in the Jongosi programme – a tailor-made day of age-appropriate
theatre and arts-related workshops.
“And the Festival provides employment –
from the many thousands of bed nights which are generated throughout the
district – in bed and breakfasts, hotels, private homes and holiday homes to
the bustling restaurants and shopping centres who benefit from the influx of people
from throughout the country to the village of Hilton.
“Dr John Kani, an icon in South African
theatre, said at the opening of the 2008 Hilton Arts Festival: ‘The partnership
of artists and business is as old as the Bible, if not older. Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo and all the other artists of their time did not paint those great
paintings in the hope of selling them to some buyer or art gallery so that they
could live. Oh no, they were commissioned to produce that work ... This then
proves, without doubt, that the partnerships between business and the arts are
essential for the development of art and artists in our country,” concludes
Clarence.
This unique festival is the leading arts
event in KZN. Art is the soul of the nation. Support it!
For more information visit https://www.hiltonfestival.co.za/
Posts
