Vibrant culture

The National Arts Festival is an important event on the South African cultural calendar, and the biggest annual celebration of the arts on the African continent. It has become the home for artists from different corners of the creative world. Whether you are a dancer, musician, painter or a mere art lover, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival is where you belong. From theatre to dance, opera to cabaret, fine art to craft art, classical music to jazz, poetry readings to lectures, every art form imaginable is represented in one of the most diverse festivals in the world. For 11 days every year, the Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown transforms from a sleepy haven of academics, students and entrepreneurs into the heart of South Africa’s arts scene.

The Turbine Fair is an annual art fair that seeks to promote new work and talent all while establishing an art audience and collector base. Exhibitors – whether galleries, collectors or dealers – are invited to exhibit contemporary artwork priced below R40 000. The Turbine Art Fair takes place at the iconic Turbine Hall in Newtown. It attracts a diverse crowd of visitors ranging from established collectors to guests who have never purchased art but are interested in finding out more and starting a collection. The fair is a lifestyle event with live music performances, delicious food and drinks as well as entertainment for the whole family. Attendees of this exciting art fair have the opportunity to fulfil both their art-viewing and art-buying needs, while the pop-up cafe and bar caters for their discerning taste buds.

Macufe is a cultural-based festival that showcases a wide range of African arts and culture to the world. It is held in Bloemfontein every year. Macufe, the ten-day Mangaung African Cultural Festival, showcases the cream of African and international talent. It features jazz, gospel, kwaito, hip-hop, R&B, rock and classical music, as well as dance, drama, cabaret, musical theatre, poetry, fine art and traditional arts and crafts. First held in 1997 before an audience of 30 000, Macufe now attracts over 140 000 people from South Africa, Africa and the world. The festival is presented in late September and early October by the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State.