A Platform for both established and emerging South African artist
Time for the young talent to go national and nationals, collaborate with internationals

Grahams town, host of the National Arts Festival, sets the stage for all genres of performing arts, and for the young to rub shoulders with the legends.
A press release by The National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester, published today, states that ‘the Festival’s aims are to encourage innovation and development in the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South African artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international artists’.
The National Arts Festival commonly known as the Grahams town Festival is the second largest arts festival in the world after the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. It began as a small English literature Festival in1974, and now runs shows from drama, dance, opera, music, visual art, lectures, stand-up comics and tours, which comes up to 433 productions, and 3840 performances for the Fringe program, and 210 productions, 406 performances for the main program.
The Festival grows with continuers support from South Africans and the media, getting the town itself to grow largely, in times like this of poor financial standings the Festival brings in approximately fifty million to the region each year, stated Lankester on the press release.
”A marginal growth in overall attendance with 147 574 attendees at the various shows on offer…..with many residents of Grahams town entirely dependent on revenues brought in during the Festival” said Lankester, figures from previous years show an extensive growth in the Festival as during 2007 143 403 people attended.
Grahams town’s population almost doubles, “Every hall or large room becomes a theatre, parks and sport fields become flea markets, and every available bed in the city is booked” said Gilly Hemphill the manager of The Famous Idea Trading CC, which serves as the media office of the Festival.
The National Arts Festival is proudly South African as most shows are dominated by South African Artists, “we have few international shows nearly all the shows are local from all the provinces” said Gilly. It is a rising opportunity, especially for the emerging artist, yet it is up to them if they want the spot light to shine even after the festival. One thing that can be confirmed is that the emerging artist, are excited about being part of the biggest festival in South Africa. Supported by SK Semakaleng a student at the Tshwane University of Technology, part-taking in the school’s drama society which will be performing at the Festival, “ Its high experience unveiled, with lots of opportunities at hand……. I cannot wait”.
While emerging artists are joyful to be a part, the youth of Grahams town feels the Festival contributes to development of local people’s lifes. “All it does is creating jobs for the duration of the festival” said a Rhode University student, Zintle Vambe who is from Joza, Grahams town. It might not be much but it helps one way or the other.
The cost of tickets appeared to be high, yet even unemployed people feel the cost of tickets is worth it, “they are not cheap, I can tell you that. But whatever they are charging is worth it” Said Zintle.
From the second of July until the eleventh comes to rescue, artists will be displaying their work for the world. “Next year the Festival runs for 15 days during the World Cup, from twenty June to four July. We hope to draw audiences then” said Gilly, would you miss it again?
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