Festival goers arrived in 1992 to find that the Festival had a whole new look! For the first time, the National Arts Festival had its own branding. The logos of Standard Bank and the 1820 Foundation had been replaced by the Festival’s new emblem – three flags in red, green and blue. As Professor Alan Crump, Chairman of the Standard Bank National Arts Committee, explained “It was felt that the largest cultural event in the country deserved an autonomous image and a new identity.” This new look extended from the programme to the town itself, as new and improved signage in the Festival’s colours lined the streets, directing audience members to venues and places of interest.

The Festival’s continued growth was cause for celebration and, in some cases, concern. Festival organisers took care to address some of these worries in the foreword to the programme, hoping to reassure artists and arts lovers alike. One of the primary concerns raised over previous years was that the Festival might have grown too big – not just for its own sustainability, but also for the town itself. To this, the organisers responded that the Festival remained an organic entity, which was able to grow and shrink as required and desired, adapting to changes in circumstance, society and the artistic environment. For the time being, the size and growth of the Festival remained a natural reflection of (and response to) an artistic community and public yearning for expression, reflection and connection.