Arts Alive brings on Spring
Spring is definitely on it’s way as more and more events fill the September calender. Arts Alive announces a hot line-up for this years festival including the electro maestro Frederik Galliano, world music heavyweights Mory Kante and Hermeto Pascoal and a dance and film segment for some flavour on the side. Here’s more:
Newtown, Johannesburg is set to come alive with the sounds and sights of the annual Arts Alive September Festival, which boasts an array of compelling artistic offerings for Joburg residents to indulge in!
Kicking off on August 31st, the festivities will continue throughout the month of September, and include artistic programmes from a diverse set of disciplines – theatre, dance, film, comedy, music and the visual arts will all be part of the Arts Alive programme this year.
The annual festival, hosted by the City of Joburg, has become synonymous with an exceptional, accessible and engaging artistic programme that harnesses artistic talent from various parts of the world to create an incredible smorgasbord of cultural events.
Arts Alive is housed in the Community Development Department of the Joburg City. The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Community Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said: “Arts Alive is making a meaningful contribution towards the City’s vision where community development, personal growth and social mobility are enhanced so that challenges of poverty, vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion can be fundamentally addressed”.
True to tradition, this years Arts Alive September Festival 2007 has secured the services of musical giants such as Cuba’s Omar Sosa, Frederic Galliano, from France, the world-renowned balafon playing genius Mory Kante, Vieux Farka Toure, son of the late, great Ali Farka Toure and Brazilian, Hermeto Pascaol amongst others.
“Once again, the City of Johannesburg will be home to the crème of the world’s cultural and artistic talent over an entire month period, comments Steven Sack Director for Arts and Culture. “
From Newtown right through to Soweto, Arts Alive will be providing Joburg residents an incredible array of arts and culture offerings. We’re bringing Brazil, Mali, France, Guinea, Cuba, India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe right to Joburg’s doorstep in the form of an incredible artistic line-up, and really encourage Joburger’s to shake off the winter blues and enjoy the festivities brought to you courtesy of Arts Alive.
The programme includes a must-see visual arts tribute to Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, which will be hosted at the Hector Pieterson Museum throughout the month of September. Also on the visual arts programme is the highly acclaimed Africa Remix exhibition and the Sasol Wax Art Award held at Johannesburg Art Gallery.
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The dance element of Arts is an exemplar of the international flavour that the Arts Alive brand has become known for – the Dance Factory will feature performances from a Sybel Ballet Theatre (a Tunisian company), South Africa’s own Ballet Theatre Afrikan and Moving into Dance Mophatong.
AFDA will host their International Student Film Festival at Museum Africa, celebrating South Africa’s youthful film talent, while the CIT:Y Festival will pioneer collaborations between tertiary institutions involved in the creative arts and Arts Alive. Participating institutions include the University of Johannesburg, Wits, AFDA, Greenside Design Centre, Damelin, Newtown Creative Industries, FUBA and the Design Centre.
The final weekend of the Arts Alive September festival is aptly named the “Lockdown”. On this weekend a total price “Lockdown” will take place on all events. Weekend tickets will be available from Computicket for R100.00. These tickets allow the holder access to all of the events and performances taking place between the 28th and 29th of September in the City of Johannesburg.
There is little doubt that the activities planned for Arts Alive September Festival 2007 will continue to provide the diversity and excellence that the Festival earned its reputation. All roads lead to Joburg during September as the City comes alive to the sounds of the worlds finest doing what they do best at the Arts Alive September Festival!
