Media Releases 2014 - 2010
The National Arts Festival, Grahamstown today expressed its delight at being chosen to curate and stage the South African exhibition at the 55th La Biennale di Venezia, saying that it would embark on the project with the best interests of our country’s artists at heart.
Acknowledging this event as the “world’s premiere showcase for the contemporary visual arts”, Festival CEO Tony Lankester said that participation in the La Biennale di Venezia was something that all artists should aspire to. “Venice is arguably the most prestigious and well-established visual arts showcase in the world, and having their work shown there is a major opportunity for our artists to get global exposure,” he said.
The Africa Centre’s Infecting The City Public Arts Festival, a highlight on the Cape Town calendar, will be hosted in Mbombela for the first time this year, in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture. The Festival is taking place in Mbombela’s city centre on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January 2014.
The Department of Arts and Culture has received 53 nominations for candidates to serve on the Visual Arts Task Team. The nominees include artists, curators, academics, art lecturers, gallery owners, arts administrators and representatives from independent organizations. There are candidates that have received multiple nominations.
The nominations process is a result of a two-day Visual Arts Indaba hosted by the Department of Arts and Culture in October 2012. The purpose of the indaba was to discuss how government and the visual arts sector could work together to strengthen and grow the sector. Government and delegates also agreed to form of a Visual Arts Task Team that would serve on the implementation of recommendations intended to strengthen the visual arts in South Africa.
The opening ceremony of the World Festival of Black Arts scheduled to take place on 10 December 2010 in Senegal has been postponed to 14 December 2010.
The Senegalese authorities have informed us that due to unforeseen circumstances, they had to delay the opening ceremony.
We want to take this opportunity to assure the nation that the participation of the South African artists will take place according to the new date. All South African artists billed to perform at the festival will still get their chance to showcase their talents.
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr. Paul Mashatile and a large government-sponsored contingent of South African artists will depart for Senegal to participate at the World Festival of Black Arts, the FESMAN on 9 December 2010.
The first World Festival of Black Arts was initiated in 1966 by the late Senegalese President, Leopold Sedah Senghor, who was also a renowned poet. The first edition was organised under the theme “The significance of black art in the life of the people and for the people”.
Nigeria hosted the 2nd festival in 1977 which inspired the establishment of the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) in Nigeria and was attended by artists from fifty-nine countries from Africa and its Diaspora.
President Jacob Zuma accompanied by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile will officially open the Steve Biko Centre on 30 November 2012 in Ginsberg Township, King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape.
The Department of Arts and Culture hosted a two-day Visual Arts Indaba-Towards a Visual Arts Framework last week at the Cedar Park Conference Centre, Johannesburg.
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile will give a keynote address on the launch of a book entitled “Letters to President Obama from the children of South Africa”. The event will take place on Thursday, 04 October 2012 from 11:00 -12:30 at Union Terrance, Sheraton Pretoria Hotel.
“Letters to President Obama from the children of South Africa”, compiled by Dr Mukanda Mabonso Mulemfo, is the second book of a series on stories written by children on leadership. The first book was entitled “Children Letters to President Zuma”.
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, has congratulated Prof. Keorapetse Kgositsile on receiving his latest accolade, an honorary Doctorate from the University of South Africa (UNISA).Prof. Kgositsile will receive the honorary Doctorate today the 13th of September 2012 at UNISA.
The main programme of National Book Week will be held at the Red Location Museum in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, from 6-8 September 2012. The programme will run from 9:00-16:00 every day and entrance if free.
Following the official opening by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile, on Monday 3 September, a number of satellite activities are being held across the Eastern Cape. These activities include book debates, wherein learners from schools across the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality discuss books by leading South African writers. This is in line with what was articulated in Mashatile’s opening address, where he described the purpose as being “to engender wider audiences for South African literature and enhance the development of a dynamic book sector that is globally competitive.”