When Life Happens: HIV and AIDS Arts & Culture Festival

Posted on Nov 24, 2008

We’re warmed by the notion behind the term ‘When life Happens’, specifically with regards to HIV and AIDS, it takes away the stigma, negativity and fear that cloud the disease, demystifying it into something that does happen, has happened and can happen, to thousands of people around us. In support of those millions of people to whom ‘life happened’ and who are living with HIV and AIDS, make sure to get down to Arts and Culture Festival in Newtown the first week of December, featuring some of SA’s most intriguing cultural artists like choreographers Gregory Maqoma and PJ Sabbagha, DJ Khenzero, singer Fifi and lots lots more… When Life Happens: HIV and AIDS focused Arts and Culture Festival 3rd to 14 December 2008 Newtown, Johannesburg Program follows: VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION 10am to 5pm daily @ Museum Africa from 3rd to 14th December An exciting exhibition by a group of talented emerging artists, who have each been specially commissioned to create several new works for the 2008 Festival. Artists exhibiting include Phumzile Buthelezi, Happy Dlame, Michel Mhlungu, Yvonne Harvey, Vusi Mfupi, Themba Mofekeng and Mandla Manana. The commissioned artists were invited to contribute new works with the intention of exploring, investigating and communicating their thoughts and perspectives on the current HIV and AIDS situation in South Africa. MURAL In creation from 4th December @ the corner of Miriam Makeba Street and Carr Street, Newtown The visual arts curators for the 2008 When Life Happens Festival, Mandla Manana and Themba Mofekeng, will be creating a new HIV and AIDS-focused wall mural from Thursday, 4th December. Each year, When Life Happens has made a contribution to the growing collection of murals in Newtown. This year, the area’s street children will participate in the mural project. MASS ART INSTALLATION/INTERVENTION 5th and 6th December @ Mary Fitzgerald Square, through the day Bronwyn Lace and a team of performers and artists from the Bag Factory will be creating an exciting and provocative outdoor performance intervention and mass installation artwork. A first for Newtown, this commissioned, site-specific land art installation will unfold and unravel over the course of two days on Mary Fitzgerald Square. Watch that space! PERFORMANCE POETRY AND MUSIC Thursday, 4th December @ The Bassline from 7.30pm till 11pm Over the past four years, this event has grown into one of the highlights of the festival programme, attracting maximum-capacity audiences of free-thinking and spirited revelers and activists. This year will be no different: an insightful, provocative and entertaining party with a message. The musicians, DJs, poets and wordsmiths throwing themselves and their art behind the cause include DJ Khenzero, Fifi, Pokah, Nomsa Mazwai, Ntsiki...