The National Arts Festival’s Think!Fest programme has developed a strong profile for attracting thought-leaders, trendsetters and movers and shakers to the Festival in Grahamstown. Presented as a series of lectures, seminars and forums; the National Arts Festival is extending a call for proposals from foundations, think tanks and specialised agencies to participate in the 2014 Think!Fest programme.

2014 marks the 40^th Anniversary of the National Arts Festival. The four decades have seen thousands of productions and exhibitions and several dramatic transformations and shifts in aesthetics, politics and social dynamics. 2014 also marks the 20^th anniversary of South Africa’s constitutional democracy. These milestones offer an opportunity for retrospection, celebrating excellence and continuing to break new ground not only in the arts but also in other sectors.

The Festival invites proposals for panel discussions and/or lectures that can be presented on the 2014 programme and which will consider these milestones and contribute towards the Festival’s vision of being a playground for the arts, entertainment, information and debate.

Proposals must include:

• ·         A 100 word narrative description of the organisation / foundation / institution submitting the proposal. (Please include website link)
• ·         Proposed topic
• ·         A brief 100 word extract
• ·         Proposed speaker (s)
• ·         Brief 150 word narrative biographies of each proposed speaker (s)
• ·         Proposed budget. Please indicate which line items the organisation / foundation / institution submitting the proposal can cover. Consideration will be given to proposals which are able to cost-share expenses.

The National Arts Festival is committed to create an enabling environment for creativity and free expression and to give audiences the opportunity to experience and engage with a diverse range of ideas and viewpoints. The Festival embraces the challenge of using the Festival’s status, history and legacy to drive social cohesion and to put the protection of human rights at the forefront of the national psyche.

The Think!Fest programme is presented on the Festival’s Main programme and is sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands and City Press. All proposals must be submitted as per the brief specified in this call for proposals.

Correspondence about funding and enquiries about participation can be addressed to the Artistic Director at ismail@nationalartsfestival.co.za. Proposals for consideration must reach the Festival no later than Monday 7 October 2013. Please address proposals to jayne@nationalartsfestival.co.za.

The 40th edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown will take place from 3 to 13 July 2014. See staging.codelikeclockwork.com/naf2015, or the National Arts Festival Grahamstown on Facebook, or @artsfestival on Twitter, for more information.

The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape Government, Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press and M Net.