The Impact of the 2016 National Arts Festival

Summary
The South African National Arts Festival (NAF), is one of the oldest and largest mixed arts festivals in Africa.
Research design was based on the Framework for the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of Publically Funded Arts, Culture and Heritage (SACO, 2016), and on previous NAF studies.
Data was collected via a carefully stratified sample of interviews and self-completion questionnaires. Results demonstrated that the M&E Framework is a satisfactory tool to gauge the extent to which a large festival attains it stated goals.
The more than 600 interviews conducted during the 11-day 2016 Festival consisted of 512 visitors (locally called ‘Festinos’) and 100 locals. The majority of visitors from beyond the town were from the rest of the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the Western Cape Provinces and had been to the National Arts Festival six or seven time previously. Typically, Visitor Festinos stayed for 6 days, attending more than 10 ticketed shows in addition to free performances, exhibitions and craft markets, with spending of close to R6 900 on accommodation, tickets, food and drinks and shopping.
Festinos rated accommodation, restaurants, Main and Fringe shows highly or very highly between 70% and 88% on average. Craft markets were rated somewhat lower. Compared to the 2013 study, positive Festino opinions on socio-cultural value of the Festival were markedly improved. These were measured by asking festinos to respond to statements relating to the opportunity to see artists and events not otherwise able to be seen, increasing their understanding and enjoyment of culture, and providing new and interesting topics for socializing and ‘talking about. Ninety-nine per cent of those interviewed would recommend the event to others.