The National Arts Festival has announced the opening of applications for its 2025 curated program, marking a significant milestone as it celebrates 50 years of artistic excellence in Makhanda.
The festival invites artists and producers to submit proposals for the curated segment, which the artistic committee, led by Artistic Director Rucera Seethal, carefully selects. Successful curated works receive financial support from the festival for their creation, rehearsal, and presentation in Makhanda, often in collaboration with esteemed partners.
The festival, renowned for its rich history of fostering artistic innovation and cultural dialogue, also features a fringe program. Unlike the curated program, the fringe consists of self-funded independent artists. Applications for the fringe program will open on October 1 and close on November 25, 2024, providing a platform for emerging talent to showcase their work without the constraints of traditional funding mechanisms.
Seethal emphasizes the festival’s commitment to generating new work, even amid challenging financial times. “Through co-productions with our partners, we have been able to stimulate new work, forge new collaborations, and bring fresh possibilities to life,” she notes. This year, the festival is equally enthusiastic about introducing existing works to new audiences, welcoming proposals at all stages of readiness. Many productions debut at the festival and subsequently tour the country, exemplifying the festival’s role as a launchpad for innovative performances.
One such highlight is Alan Parker and Gavin Krastin’s physical theatre piece, “Fallen (and I can’t get up),” which playfully and poignantly explores the notion of a ‘comfort zone.’ After its debut at the National Arts Festival, the show will have a second run at Theatre Arts in Observatory, Cape Town, later this month.
In addition to the curated and fringe programs, the festival is expanding its search for the 2024 Standard Bank Young Artists by introducing a new nomination process. The artistic community is invited to nominate exceptional South African artists under 35 until August 19, 2024. The artistic committee will assess these nominations, adding them to a pool of candidates vying for the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award.
The National Arts Festival, held annually in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, has long been a beacon of artistic expression and cultural celebration. Over the past five decades, it has provided a vibrant platform for experimentation, protest, collaboration, and celebration, featuring a diverse array of performances from drama and dance to music, comedy, and visual arts. This dynamic event continues to attract artists and audiences from around the world, reaffirming its status as a cornerstone of South Africa’s cultural landscape.
Submit Here
Closing date 16 September 2024 (midnight SAST).
For more information and to submit applications or nominations, visit the festival’s official website at nationalartsfestival.co.za.
