We are the National Arts Festival

The National Arts Festival has long been a highlight on South Africa’s cultural calendar. Its a time for artists and visitors to gather, engage and celebrate. Showcasing work across a range of disciplines, this is a festival that encourages range, versatility and innovation.

We have our generous sponsors to thank for keeping the spirit of the National Arts Festival alive, affording us the privilege of creating extraordinary works that continue to reflect the shifts of the artistic landscape not only in South Africa but around the world. It is with great pleasure that we welcome our patrons back to celebrate the South African arts community.

NAF image 1 — Sundowner Concert in the Monument Photo by Jan Potgieter

NAF image 1 (1) — Little Red Riding Hood photo by Mark Wessels

Today the Festival continues to provide space for work that interrogates the country and world we live in, and expresses the viewpoints of diverse communities locally and across the globe.

The last few years have brought with them challenges that have been felt globally as well as ones that are very South African. The pandemic left no element of human life untouched. Artists and all of those involved in the creative industries felt the devastating effect of a world in lockdown. From digital to hybrid editions, the Festival pivoted like so many others in the creative sector, presenting groundbreaking new works that adapted to new technologies.

Nothing compares to face-to-face gatherings though, and it was with much excitement that we welcomed everyone back to Makhanda in 2022. The lockdown levels lifted just as the Festival opened, allowing us to gather in numbers we hadn’t seen since 2019.

And now we are here in 2023, with its own challenges…We have backup power available throughout the Festival venues, but more importantly, we have a programme celebrating excellence in the arts including drama, dance, physical theatre, comedy, music, jazz, exhibitions and more.