City offers funding to Durban arts festival performers

EThekwini residents who are taking productions to the 2017 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown are urged to apply to the Department of Arts and Living Cultures for financial and marketing support, as the Ethekwini Municipality has offered its assistance.

As part of the city’s continued commitment to ensure that Durban has a meaningful presence at the National Arts Festival (NAF), it selects a comprehensive range of productions to support and assist.

The application process is open to groups and individuals who have already registered and have been approved to perform on the fringe at Grahamstown. There are no criteria restricting the genre of productions to be supported, and they can be dance, musical theatre, drama, comedy, physical theatre and so on. Selected productions will receive the city’s support towards their transport, accommodation and marketing costs.

To be considered, interested candidates must submit a comprehensive motivation including their approval reference number from NAF, confirmed performance dates, times and designated performance venue, as well as a detailed proposal about the production to be staged and information about the production company, including their history and experience. Letters of reference and support material about their company’s previous work would be preferable.

The 2017 National Arts Festival will be held from 29 June to 9 July in Grahamstown and promises to be another amazing celebration of the best in performance and visual arts in South Africa.

Applications must be hand delivered to 99 Umgeni Road, Durban by 31 March at 4pm.

Address further enquiries to the manager of Arts and Living Cultures, Themba Mchunu, eThekwini Municipality or Phumelele Myeza at phumelele.myeza@durban.gov.za or call 031-311-2427/8.