(Photograph by Harry Lock)
It is with great regret that the Hilton Arts
Festival management announces the cancellation of this year’s event due to the
world wide pandemic.
The decision has been taken after consultation
with all major sponsors and in particular with Hilton College, the festival’s
presenting sponsor and the host of the event.
Sue Clarence, Director of the Festival since its
inception in 1993, said: “In the light
of all the uncertainty surrounding the world’s return to a place where a
festival would again be safe and possible to stage, and mindful of the absolute
global priority of curtailing the virus, we decided that it would be wiser to
make the decision to cancel sooner rather than later. There is no doubt that
this is a wise move, but it is, nevertheless, a sad day. Our thoughts are with
all the actors, musicians, singers, theatre technicians, artists and crafters,
few of whom are regular salaried people and many of whom had their source of
income come to an abrupt end in mid-March. We look forward in hope to welcoming
you to the 28th Hilton Arts Festival, now planned for 2021.”
Although there will not be a festival in 2020,
Festival organisers are planning an online celebration of the event and the
role it plays in the national arts scene. Details of this will be advertised on
the Festival website and social media.
The Hilton Arts Festival, in the magnificent
setting of Hilton College in the KZN Midlands near Pietermaritzburg, has
garnered the reputation of being the premier festival event in KZN, staging top
quality drama, comedy and music while providing a platform for visual artists
and quality crafters. This programme is supported by a wide selection of arts
related movies, lectures and workshops.
For the present, the tentative dates for 2021
will be September 10 to 12. These dates will be confirmed once there is more
clarity on the pandemic.
Refer to www.hiltonfestival.co.za for all info and updates.
All queries: admin@hiltonfestival.co.za; 082 469
7222.
The Festival wishes to thank all its loyal
sponsors, without whom it would not be possible.
It is presented by Hilton College in
association with Grindrod Bank,
Absa, Black Coffee Design, Extreme Events, DWR,
Bidvest Car Rental, KZN Dept of
Art & Culture, Chilli Source, Durban Youth
Radio, BASA, Southern Sun PMB, Redlands Hotel, Martizburg Sun, Caxton, SA Artist, Loud Crowd
Media and Sappi.
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