The annual Ramsgate Book & Art Festival
is set in the picturesque, seaside village of Ramsgate on the KwaZulu-Natal
South Coast. This cultural, colourful and community driven festival is entering
into its fourth year and is now firmly entrenched on the South African annual
events calendar.
2018 sees the Festival expanding to include
another day and the impressive programme kicks off on August 2 and runs until August
5.
The Festival takes place along the main
road of Ramsgate village itself. Galleries, restaurants, antique shops,
courtyards, car parks and the beautiful Whale Deck overlooking the ocean are
all ‘venues’ where events unfold. All are within walking distance of each
other.
Book signings, authors talks, art
exhibitions, art demos, poetry by candlelight, crafts, entertainment, street
food, panel discussions, book sales and creative workshops are all part of a
beautifully laid out and varied literary programme.
The overriding theme for Festival this year
is “# Connecting” - a broad subject encouraging communication in all imaginable
spheres – both physical and abstract.
The official opening of the Festival takes
place on August 2 at 18h00 at The Artists’ Gallery in the heart of Ramsgate.
The opening of the Festival will be coupled with the opening of the prestigious
and historical art exhibition entitled Boyley’s
World - the centenary celebration of the life and works of South African
master painter Errol Boyley. A superbly fitting exhibition as Errol Boyley
along with Tittal Fasciotti, WH Coetzer and Walter Battis are but a few names
synonymous with the area and serve as a rich inspiration for various art forms,
which have blossomed in this region.
Artists’ Gallery, where the exhibition will
be held, is now home to a collective of eight top South African artists and is
the original Gallery where Errol Boyley and his wife Jocelyn exhibited his work
– a historical exhibition indeed.
The Festival planners are delighted to
announce that hilarious radio talk show host, journalist, author and television
scriptwriter, Ndumiso Ngcobo, is one of the top authors confirmed for the
Festival. Ndumiso spent the first decade of his working life as a Mathematics
and Science teacher, research development specialist and technical consultant
in the food manufacturing industry. After tiring of the corporate world, he put
together his years of writing and in 2007 released his comical, wry and topical
literary offering, Some Of My Best
Friends Are White, which became an instant bestseller, peaking at number
two in the Sunday Times Bestseller list. It is presently being translated into
Italian and German. Following hot on the heels of this bestseller is
laser-sharp commentary on the Rainbow Nation, entitled Is it Coz I’m Black?
Also taking part in the festival is
multi-talented author Paul Crilley. Paul has been writing professionally for
the past 15 years and has written comics, worked on five computer games, worked
on over 13 television shows and written eight novels – his latest offering
being Poison City.
Well-known author speaking at the Festival
is crime writer, Monty Roodt. Monty is presently the professor of Sociology at
Rhodes University in Grahamstown and he will be chatting about how and why we
are fascinated by the dark-side of life from a crime point of view. He will
also touch on the contents of his latest novel entitled Dead Man’s Land.
Charismatic vet, short story writer and
speaker Tod Collins is considered by many to be South Africa’s very own James
Herriot and be will sharing his brand new book at the Festival.
Rob Caskie is bound to have all enthralled
with his special brand of storytelling and author Sheila Naidoo will be
chatting about her new offering entitled Higher
Ground.
Jackie Phamatso, Elana Bregin and Nick van
der Leek, who incidentally is the great-great-grandson of Cape-Dutch artist
Tinus de Jongh, will be adding their voices to both the panel discussions and
individual slots.
Three nights of top class entertainment
will also be on offer at the Festival. These include a live poetry evening
which will follow on from the Festival opening on Thursday evening and Friday
night sees the sassy Black Orchid Burlesque S.A. dance troupe and swing-jazz
singer Natasha Muller take to the stage in an evening of glamour & pearls.
A shot of comedy in the form of stand-up and hilarious improvisation will take
place on the Saturday evening, supper theatre style, entitled Shoot from the Hip.
A youth programme is also on the cards for
the Festival. Young poets are invited to come along and recite their poetry, a
recycling art workshop will be held and a delightful children’s programme is
again firmly entrenched in the mix with actresses Barbie Meyer and Kay Federl
at the helm.
After a raging success with a local Poetry
Book launched at The Ramsgate Book & Art Festival last year, the organisers
are happy to announce that they will be printing and producing a similar book
for this year’s Festival. There will be two sections - one for adults and the
other for children of all ages. All local schools, home schooled children and
anyone with roots on the South Coast are invited to send in self-penned poetry.
Submissions to be sent to poetry@ramsgatefestival.co.za
August 5 begins bright and early with a
sunrise beach mediation headed by author Bernie Vorster. Thereafter, The
Ramsgate Conservancy will offer an exciting early morning walk along the
beautiful coastline, ending on the Ramsgate Whale Deck with a scrumptious
breakfast.
A ‘Wine Down’ on Sunday afternoon will take
place at the iconic live music venue Rocky Ridge, where all can relax, listen
to music and share their connections made throughout the jam-packed four days.
Besides the Workshops, Beach Walk and
evening shows – entrance to the Festival and all talks are free of charge.
Ramsgate Book & Art Festival is
organized by Ugu South Coast Tourism’s Ramsgate Area Committee, Ramsgate
Conservancy, local business owners and a host of enthusiastic book and art
loving volunteers.
Follow the Festival on Facebook and
Instagram for regular updates or go to www.ramsgatefestival.co.za for more
information.
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