Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP, will deliver a keynote address at the official opening of the National Arts Festival 2015 on Wednesday, 01 July 2015 at the Guy Butler Theatre, Monument building in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. The festival is supported under the Department of Arts and Culture Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy (MGE) that seeks to unleash the economic potential of the arts sector towards job creation, nation building and social cohesion.

The Department of Arts and Culture has committed R15 000,000.00 towards National Arts Festival for three years, and 2015/16 financial year will be the end of the contract. Through the support of the department’s strategic economic policy of MGE, the Festival continues draw and develop audiences, thus creating a number of job opportunities and building markets for the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector. The sector has always produced prophetic voices, pioneers, visionaries and independent thinkers who have been at the forefront of articulating the aspirations and hopes for a united country and free society.

Now in its 41st years, National Arts Festival remains a catalyst for promoting nation building and social cohesion as it continues to bring together artists and audiences from different background and cultures. The Festival programme is comprised of drama, dance, physical theatre, comedy, opera, music, jazz, visual art exhibitions, film, student theatre, street theatre, lectures, craft fair, workshops and tour. The National Arts Festival is one of many annual festivals supported through the MGE strategy across the country which includes both small and large scale festivals such as: Mangaung Cultural Festival (MACUFE) in Free State; Cape Town International Jazz Festival; Diamonds and Dorings Festival in the Northern Cape, Marula Festivals in Limpopo and Buyela’khaya Festival in Easter Cape, among others.

The Department of Arts and Culture is proud to support the National Arts Festival as it continues to promote and develop the sector.

The Deputy Minister will participate in the following activities between 01 and 02 July 2015:

National Arts Festival Press Conference on Wednesday, 01 July 2015 at 15h00, Grahamstown City Hall.
Through the National Archives of South Africa, DAC will unveil Africa’s Liberation Exhibition on Thursday, 02 July at the DAC exhibition centre at 10h30. This is a digital interactive exhibition about Liberated African countries.
Deputy Minister will also do a walkabout at the South African Library for the Blind and National English Literary Museum on Thursday, 02 July at 12h00.

The official opening will take place as follows:

Date: 01 July 2015
Time: 18h00
Venue: Guy Butler Theatre, Monument building in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape

Media RSVPs: Madimetja Moleba, Madimetjam@dac.gov.za / 060 971 7482
Media enquiries: Peter Mbelengwa 082 611 8197

Issued by Government Communications (GCIS) on behalf of Department of Arts and Culture

30 June 2015