By Lucille Davie
THE "Sistuhs" are gathering for a celebration in Newtown in Johannesburg, with women artists coming together to share their experiences in an area "that does not seem to be getting nearly enough attention".
The second Women's Art Festival is to be held in Newtown from 8 to 10 August, Susie Mabie of the Transnet Foundation announced on Tuesday. The Festival coincides with national Women's Day on 9 August, and plans to give an audience to established and up-and-coming women in the arts field.
Transnet Foundation, the Johannesburg Development Agency and the Market Theatre Foundation are sponsoring this year's Festival. Its primary aim is to "bring together women artists to relate and share their experiences and common goals in a structured forum", said Riah Phiyega, executive director of Transnet.
She adds: "The overwhelming demand for the festival after its success last year proved to us that we had discovered a way we can contribute to the arts in an area that did not seem to be getting nearly enough attention."
The Festival is multi-disciplinary and will showcase film, crafts, drama, music, dance, poetry, photography and healing, over the three days.
Some of the items on the programme include:
- a film festival at the Market Theatre Laboratory, featuring new filmmakers from the Newtown Film School, South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance and the Pretoria Technikon
- seminars on women in the arts at the MuseuMAfrikA auditorium, involving Women of the Sun, a section 21 media and resource network of African women filmmakers
- a drama festival, including the following plays: Baby Tshepang, At her Feet, Barney's Women, House of Bernarda Alba, Mother's Milk, and Prisons of Freedom, at the Market Theatre
- photographic exhibitions, including works by Nontsikelelo Veleko and Nirupa Sing, on at the Market Theatre Gallery
- a craft exhibition showcasing 12 women's work in wood, ceramics, beads and glass, at the Bus Factory
- music concerts including Busi Mhlongo, Basadi, Thandiswa Mazwai, Linda Kekana, Judith Sephuma, Nokhukhanya, Swazi, Fowzia Banu and Troupe with a concert on Women's Day, 9 August, at the Market Theatre
- dance workshops at the Dance Factory, featuring Gladys Agulhas, Jeannette Ginslow, Constance Kau, Portia Mashigo, Dada Masilo, Athena Mazarakis, Mamela Nyamza, Kitty Phetla, Thoko Seganye, Nelisiwe Xaba, and dancers from Ballet Theatre Afrikan
- poetry, monologues and prose readings in a programme called "Feeling a Sistuh"
- a series of workshops and talks conducted by healing therapists and facilitators, with exposure to meditation, reiki and touch therapy
- a Young Designer Market at the Market Theatre foyer, with clothing designers from Wits Technikon and other institutes displaying and selling their clothing
This year the Festival will include the national government's Poverty Alleviation Craft Exhibition, which will run from 8 to 31 August at the Bus Factory.
Tickets for the Festival are on sale at Computicket.
Click here for full programme.
