There is always much excitement and high expectations in Grahamstown when the Standard Bank Young Artists unveil the fruits of their labours to Festival audiences. This year Standard Bank marks 30 years of sponsorship for these awards and to honour this anniversary, an unprecendented seven awards were made in 2014. A theatre favourite, Greg Homann’s OEDIPUS @ KOÖ-NÚ! is based on the tragedy Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles. Giving some background to his work Homann explains how he cast the … [Read more...] about Young Artists inspire at the 2014 National Arts Festival
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Grahamstown Jazz highlights feature Feya Faku
The Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Grahamstown 2014, incorporates a variety of disciplines into its programme. Modern Jazz is one of the exiting genres that will be showcased at the festival this year. It is just one part of the exceptional programme which includes Mainstream, Afro-Jazz, Modern Jazz, Youth and the Standard Bank Jazz and Blues Café. Capetonian pianist, saxophonist, composer and band leader Kyle Shepherd is the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2014. Ten years ago this … [Read more...] about Grahamstown Jazz highlights feature Feya Faku
A United Nations of African musicians
The Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Grahamstown 2014, incorporates a variety of disciplines into its programme. Blues/Funk/World Music is one of the exciting genres that will be showcased at the festival this year. It is just one part of the exceptional programme which includes Mainstream, Afro-Jazz, Modern Jazz, Youth and the Standard Bank Jazz and Blues Café. Collaborations and explorations are the unofficial threads that tie this category together, so it is fitting that this year’s festival … [Read more...] about A United Nations of African musicians
Jazz Superstars set to dazzle at Fest
The Standard Bank Jazz Festival 2014 incorporates a variety of disciplines into its programme. The ever-popular Mainstream is just one of the genres that will be highlighted at the festival this year. The others include Blues, Funk, World Music, Afro-Jazz, Modern Jazz and Youth. This year’s Mainstream line-up includes a glittering cluster of Jazz musicians representing the ‘standards’ of Jazz standards. Multi Grammy-award-winning composer, conductor and performer Maria Schneider will be … [Read more...] about Jazz Superstars set to dazzle at Fest
Jazz Greats grace Grahamstown
Standard Bank’s long association with jazz in Grahamstown goes back to 1998 when it first sponsored the Festival jazz programme. Since then it has become increasingly considered the best jazz programme on the continent if one is looking for a barometer of South African jazz. It is a place where musicians from all over the world come together to play music together and share their talents with up-and-coming youth jazz musicians in the unique educational workshops that also take place during the … [Read more...] about Jazz Greats grace Grahamstown
Life begins at Forty
The National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, has announced a landmark Main programme which will feature the work of 65 former Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners; artists from 26 countries; over 550 performances in Theatre, Dance, Performance Art and Music; nine specially commissioned music works; musicians with more than 40 South African Music Awards and three Grammy Awards under their belt, and an ambitious, sprawling ‘Creation of a … [Read more...] about Life begins at Forty
National Arts Festival launches Creative City project in partnership with European Union
The National Arts Festival has announced the launch of a new partnership with the European Union (EU), which will see over R6m invested in the City of Grahamstown’s ‘Creative City’ project over the next two years. The partnership, through which the EU will support the Festival’s “Makana Arts Academy” project, was announced in Grahamstown this evening. “We’ve seen from the Rhodes University Economic Impact Study also released today that the Festival makes a contribution of around R360m to … [Read more...] about National Arts Festival launches Creative City project in partnership with European Union
Impact Study confirms National Arts Festival’s significant economic contribution to Grahamstown
The National Arts Festival is a significant driver of the economy of the City of Grahamstown and the Eastern Cape Province, contributing an estimated R349.9m to its economy, and residents are adamant that the event is part of what makes their City special. These are among the conclusions of a major socio-economic study conducted in 2013, the results of which were released today. The study was undertaken by a team from the Rhodes University Economics Department, led by Professor Geoff Antrobus … [Read more...] about Impact Study confirms National Arts Festival’s significant economic contribution to Grahamstown
One week left until National Arts Festival 2014 Fringe applications close
Fringe productions wanting to take part in the 2014 edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, are reminded that just one week remains until applications close, on Friday 17 January. The Festival will take place from 3 to 13 July 2014. The National Arts Festival Fringe is unique in South Africa in that no selection criteria are applied – participation in the Fringe is open to everyone. The Fringe has mushroomed in size since its inception in 1979 when a diminutive 10 events comprised … [Read more...] about One week left until National Arts Festival 2014 Fringe applications close
2014 Fringe opens for applications
The National Arts Festival, Grahamstown is now accepting applications for Fringe productions wanting to take part in the 2014 edition of the Festival. The Festival will take place from 3 to 13 July 2014. The National Arts Festival Fringe is unique in South Africa in that no selection criteria are applied – participation in the Fringe is open to everyone. The Fringe has mushroomed in size since its inception in 1979 when a diminutive 10 events comprised the Fringe – it now consistently boasts … [Read more...] about 2014 Fringe opens for applications
2014 a big year for Standard Bank Young Artist Awards
The National Arts Festival last night named an unprecedented eight young South Africans winners of the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award, bringing to 125 the total number who have been honoured since Standard Bank began sponsoring the Awards three decades ago. The Award is made annually to young South African artists who are either on the threshold of national acclaim, or whose artistic excellence has enabled them to make international breakthroughs. “Celebrating excellence, … [Read more...] about 2014 a big year for Standard Bank Young Artist Awards
National Arts Festival Jazz and Blues Café
In 2013, the Festival is proud to introduce a new Jazz Festival venue - the Standard Bank Jazz & Blues Cafe at the Lowlander, St. Andrew’s College. The venue will offer a great jazz show at 21.30, with a 23.30 Jazz Jam session or late-night blues gig where audiences can catch musicians letting off steam and butting musical heads late into the night, every night. The opening act features a collaboration between some of the hippest young jazz musicians in the country: Neil Engel (trumpet), … [Read more...] about National Arts Festival Jazz and Blues Café
Festival nurtures Eastern Cape talent
Arts Festival’s fringe programme are being engaged as mentors to assist Eastern Cape companies that will be at the Festival this year. Director Tara Louise Notcutt and 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre, Princess Mhlongo are the first two Creative Consultants who will spend a weeklong residency at the Port Elizabeth Opera House. Four additional directors will be announced next month. The Creative Consultancy Project is a partnership between the National Arts Festival and the Port … [Read more...] about Festival nurtures Eastern Cape talent
Multiple melodies at National Arts Festival
Multiple types of melody make up the Music programme at the 2013 National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. Hailing from Brakpan on the East Rand, 2013 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music, Runette Botha, made her professional début at the Royal Albert Hall, performing in a gala concert alongside José Carreras and Kiri te Kanawa. She has also performed the Erwin Stein arrangement of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony at King’s Place with Trevor Pinnock and Mahler’s Second Symphony at Cadogen Hall, and has … [Read more...] about Multiple melodies at National Arts Festival
‘But is it art?’ at the National Arts Festival
Boundaries of both audiences and performers are extended with the Performance Art offering from the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. In a performance cycle entitled Anthea Moys vs. The City of Grahamstown, the (first ever) Standard Bank Young Artist for Performance Art, Anthea Moys, will compete against the people of Grahamstown in a tournament of skill, strength, and artistry. Over a series of seven contests over seven days, outnumbered and outclassed, Moys will single-handedly do battle … [Read more...] about ‘But is it art?’ at the National Arts Festival
