The Mandela Bay Arts Festival, a project of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality delivered in partnership with the National Arts Festival, returns from 16 – 25 February 2024.
A call has opened for artists who are working in the Nelson Mandela Bay area or the greater Eastern Cape to submit proposals for work for inclusion on the Festival programme. Successful artists from outside the area but originally from the Eastern Cape will also be invited to ‘return home’ and perform at the Festival. The application process is fully online via the Festival’s website www.mbaf.co.za with a deadline of 25 September 2023 (at 17h00 CAT).
The second edition of Mandela Bay Arts Festival will include Performance, Poetry/Spoken Word, Theatre/Drama, Comedy, Dance, Literature Craft, Design, Visual Arts, Heritage and Music as well as other disciplines. Work developed for family audiences and children will be included as a specific focal point.
A series of live workshops and an online webinar (28 August) will be held to assist artists in understanding the criteria for entry and answer any questions that may come up.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mayoral Committee Member for Arts, Sport, Recreation and Culture, Councillor Bassie Kamana said the Metro was excited about the second edition of the festival.
“We are looking forward to growth of this important programme, so that more artists can benefit through skills and active participation. This is more than just a festival, this is a vehicle for the people of the Eastern Cape and the country to rejuvenate, unite, heal and celebrate. With all the social ills that are faced by societies across the Metro, events like these go a long way in healing and inspiring the youth to dream again,” said MMC Kamana.
MMC Kamana called for artists to make sure they submit the proposals within the prescribed rules and time frames.
Mandela Bay Arts Festival Artistic Committee Director, Rucera Seethal said: “We are looking forward to building on the first year of the MBAF. It was evident last year that there is so much talent in the region and we’re encouraged that we have an opportunity to provide an all-important platform for it. This is how we build an industry. Artists must be seen and have the opportunity to make great work and audiences need to enjoy work to truly appreciate how transformative it is!”
The Festival will unfold in a series of concurrent events in venues around the greater Mandela Bay metropolitan area; clustered around the hub of creative industries infrastructure in the central area and with substantive programming in areas such as New Brighton, Kariega and Walmer Township. The Festival aligns with the City’s well-established “Summer Season” programme.
The Mandela Bay Arts Festival plans to present 65 shows in total including performances, workshops and a craft and design exhibition over a 10 day period.
NMB Communications
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