The 50th edition of the National Arts Festival draws to a close this weekend in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape.This milestone event was every creative’s dream, showcasing the rich diversity of cultures across various genres.
CEO, Monica Newton, says the festival attracted a devoted and diverse audience from across South Africa and beyond.“This year’s festival was agreat success and a true testimony of the hard work the artists into making their crafts top class. We had a lot of shows that were sold out and saw a really large turnout of people at the shows. We didn’t seepeople at the crafters and food stalls but the general feel of the festival was generally great and we are happy with how things went.
This shopper’s paradise boasted an array of stylish clothing, exquisite beadwork, handmade crafts, and much more. One of the biggest crowd-pleasers was a portrait created by Cape Town artist Hilton Jackson, completed in just a few hours and with just a few clicks of a finger.enjoyed this year’s Arts Festival. I have been so busy from the day the festival started up until now. I have definitely made a lot of profit andJackson wasn’t the only one who enjoyed his time at the festival.
Fashion Designer, Anathi Amatolo, also had a mixed experience, stating that some days were better than others.very slowly and then it picked up as the days went on. We made a profit here and there butThemba Narun, a returning visitor to the Arts Festival, expressed his delight in being back for the second time.enjoyed myself. I love coming here, meeting new people, the music the arts, it’sNearly 300 works and events were on offer at this year’s festival.