National Arts Festival
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The National Arts Festival (often known as the Grahamstown Festival) is second largest arts festival in the world after the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. It takes place every year in the small town of Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, over two weeks from June to July.
The Festival includes drama, dance, opera, music, visual art, lectures and tours. There are also exhibitions, markets and other cultural events. Many theatre companies premiere shows which then go on to tour the country. The National Youth Jazz Festival and the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards also take place during the festival. The main and fringe programmes receive funding from Standard Bank, the SABC, the National Lottery, the Eastern Cape Government and National Arts Council.
The Long Table is a hot spot for audience members and performers, serving food and drinks till late, with live music. Other venues include the Beer Garden, the Village Green Fair. The biggest venue is the 1820 Settlers National Monument.
The Festival Board Chairman Ayanda Mjekula recently named former radio personality Tony Lankester as its new Chief Executive Officer.
