July 29, 2004
By Lucky Sindane
WITH a budget of R8-million Johannesburg's thirteenth Arts Alive International Festival aims to position the Newtown Cultural Precinct as one of Africa's premier cultural hubs.
Launched by Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo on Wednesday 28 July, the festival - which will feature 22 South African acts, others from the rest of Africa and one international star - is scheduled to run for the four-day long weekend from 2 to 5 September.
At the launch - Pitch Black Afro, Nomahlubi Simamane, Thandiswa Mazwai, Councillor Christine Walters, Mayor Amos Masondo, City Manager Pascal Moloi and Steven Sack. Photo by Enoch Lehung
Aiming to improve on the poor turn-out at the 2003 festival and complement other events on the cultural calendar, the organisers have re-launched the Arts Alive brand. "It is very important to maintain Arts Alive and keep it at a very high level," said mayoral committee member for community development, roads and parks, Christine Walters.
"If you look at Arts Alive this year you'll see there are very young artists," said Walters.
"In celebrating our 10 years of democracy and to create a high impact within the budget that has been allocated to Arts Alive for 2004, we have shortened the duration of the programme from 10 to four days," said Nomahlubi Simamane from Zanusi Brand Solutions, the festival organisers.
Rap sensation 50 Cent will fly in from the US for the festival, while Koffi Olimede from Congo and Senegal's Cheikh Lo will represent Africa. South African artists include Suthukazi Arosi, Busi Mhlongo and Jabu Khanyile.
"The acts we have should attract a wide spectrum - we want to attract leisure tourism because of all the acts we have this year," added Simamane.
Though most of the activities will take place in the Arts Alive Village in Newtown to showcase the regeneration projects underway in the area, Masondo urged everyone to attend the Arts Alive events around Jozi. "Come and feel the wonderful power of interacting with the diverse people of this city and let us enjoy the entertainment. Together let us reclaim the public spaces and support live performances," he said.
"The perception of Joburg as dangerous undermines the good work that is done in our city," the mayor added.
The festival, said Masondo, took into account all the other activities taking place in Johannesburg at this time of year. "When Arts Alive is planned it has to take cognisance of the fact that there are many other events that take place around the same time, like Heritage Month. Arts Alive cannot be planned in isolation from these important cultural events."
"We want to collaborate with all the events that are taking place at the same time," echoed Simamane.
The City of Johannesburg is the host, main sponsor and key stakeholder of the Arts Alive International Festival.
Bookings for all the events can be done through Computicket.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
