The National Arts Festival presents this report:
Marking 50 years has been both a celebration and a period of introspection. One thing is clear; the National Arts Festival has changed. As it should. The Festival at 50 is more compact but it’s also more diverse than ever, with a greater spread of South African languages being spoken by Festival-goers and more multi-lingual works on the stage. It attracts strong and interesting works from every province in the country and we continue to see new generations of artists and audiences coming to the Festival. The Festival has also held its place as a ‘right of passage’ for artists in South Africa with many artists also seeing it as a yardstick to mark the progression of their careers.
The DNA of this diversity was planted with the Fringe. The National Arts Festival was conceived in 1974 to uphold and promote works in English, at first performing classical and contemporary works that were formed overseas. With the cultural boycott, more South African works emerged at the Festival, notably those of Athol Fugard, Pieter Dirk-Uys and Gibson Kente. But the introduction of the Fringe in 1979 was the definitive moment for the National Arts Festival to become a space where artists could experiment, create, share and test their own works outside of the Festival’s curatorial frame.
This fundamental independence and freedom of expression is still at the core of the National Arts Festival. We create the platform for fearless work. And although a good portion of the programme is carefully curated by our Artistic Committee to highlight specific themes and engage with current issues, it is also a Festival formed and defined by artists.
In 2024, our country also celebrated 30 years of democracy. It is this diversity of thought, creativity and ideas that we see on stage that upholds democracy. In a world that is showing alarming shifts away from democratic principles, the arts have a vital function to keep us from hegemony and we proudly play a role in reflecting the complexity of our multi-faceted, richly diverse culture.
Our deepest thanks to those who have walked this path with us. Our steadfast partner, Standard Bank, celebrated 40 years of supporting the Festival this year. This is the longest running arts sponsorship in South Africa and we are grateful that Standard Bank has been at our side, actively contributing to the evolution of the Festival over the years.
The Eastern Cape government has also walked a long road with the Festival, sharing our vision for the development of opportunities for Eastern Cape artists and the exceptional talent that comes out of this province. We are extremely grateful for their support and vision. The Sarah Baartman District Municipality has been a supporter for over 25 years, showing the commitment of local government to growing the arts and tourism for the area.
The Department of Arts and Culture is also a steadfast partner and an important one for the Festival’s place in a bigger contribution to the country’s cultural ecosystem. Our gratitude to them for their support but also for the support they give artists in creating and moving work.
We are also extremely grateful to the National Lotteries Commission for their allocation of funding during the 2024 year.
Beyond our core partners, are the many essential relationships that the Festival relies on. These include the National Arts Council, Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, the SABC, HEINEKEN Beverages and Business and Arts South Africa.
The National Arts Festival also works closely with the Makana Municipality; both as a host city for the Festival and through the Social Employment Fund. This project sees the Festival’s organising capacity facilitating work programmes in Makhanda across cleaning, recycling, filling potholes, renewal and upliftment. The project has seen 1,600 people gain temporary employment in 2024. This in a town where unemployment rates are exceptionally high and employment is the lived experience of very few adults.
This year we have also been a founding partner in the formation of the Festival Enterprise Catalyst Programme, a project that sees us partner with Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief (NATi), Concerts SA, Woordfees, Aardklop, Suidooster Fees, KKNK and the Tribuo Fund to co-produce work across the South African festival circuit; extending jobs and sustainable income for artists and technical teams throughout the country in a two year, R20 million programme. This project is supported by the Jobs Fund of the Department of Trade and Industry and marks a significant step in the recognition of the creative sector as a driver of employment.
The National Arts Festival benefits enormously from the work of twelve board members who support the Festival, its programmes and its objectives. Their sage advice, tireless efforts and expertise is greatly appreciated.
It's been a busy year, and we are grateful for all the wishes and encouragement we received as we celebrated the milestone that is half a century.
We begin 2025 with the hosting of the Mandela Bay Arts Festival with our partners at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (February 22 - March 2), while also focusing on the creation of the 51st National Arts Festival. Be sure to join us in Makhanda from June 26 to July 6 2025 as we celebrate a new decade for the Festival – with a soon-to-be revealed new identity.
To all our supporters, partners, families and friends – we wish you a well-deserved rest. To the artists for whom this is often a busy period, we hope you are safe and seen and can take the rewards you richly deserve.
Our 50 year story stands testament to the belief in a dream. If you are an aspiring artist with dreams of becoming great, the stage awaits and the dream is alive.
See you in 2025!
The National Arts Festival team
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