The National Arts Festival Think!Fest, in partnership with new media partner The Daily Maverick, runs at the Rhodes University Eden Grove complex, from 1 to 10 July. It provides a space for leading thinkers from a broad spectrum of disciplines to collect their thoughts and share their insights in a series of lectures, workshops and discussions
Says Think!Fest convener Anthea Garman: “We’ve taken on some important issues in the arts this year, disability and dance, the funding regime, the place of critique. We’re also hosting and interfacing with films and exhibitions as well as keeping alive conversations about social issues big and small (what social contribution are you making? are you happy? do you sleep well?). And we’ve introduced for the first time our ‘free-thinking speakers’ – people with strong opinions who want to share them more widely and start debates. We’re also looking into the future by giving some impressive young South Africans a platform to talk for themselves. It’s a big, varied, wide-ranging programme which we hope will satisfy those who like to talk and think between their shows.”
The Economics of the Arts theme will see Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile take part in a panel discussion presented by The Helen Suzman Foundation. The Funding the Arts discussion will explore how funding of the arts can become more streamlined, co-ordinated and effective to enhance the sustainability of the sector. The discussion is hosted in association with the Open Society Foundation for South Africa. Other speakers will include the CEO of Business Arts South Africa, Michelle Constant, Head of the Drama Department at UCT and co-artistic director of the Magnet Theatre, Professor Mark Fleishman and musicologist Dr Chats Devroop.
Staying on the theme of economics, Helena Barnard asks How do creative industries differ from other industries, and what does that imply for how creative industries evolve?; and Gwen Ansell explores the topic Building studios or building networks? Supporting innovation in the South African music industry.
The Creative Conundrums theme includes From criticism, to critique, to criticality: Developing performatory and participatory forms of criticism, a panel discussion initiated the recently-established South African Arts Writers & Critics Association (SAAWCA). Arts journalists Mary Corrigall, Leon de Kock and Sean O’Toole will review traditional forms of criticism and identify ways in which it can fulfill a more participatory role in the art-making process. International World Cafe facilitator Melanie Kiley returns to Think!Fest to facilitate meaningful conversation around the academic and social fragmentation between science and the rest of culture as represented by the humanities in World Cafe discussion: Poles apart? Perceived differences between the sciences and humanities.
Think!Fest film talks will see Richard Stanley speak on The secret order of movie making and The Shadow of the Grail. Victoria Marks has been creating work for the stage and film that challenges conventional notions of disability. Her work has included choreo-portraits of dancers and non-dancers, individuals with visible and invisible disabilities. She will introduce the films Outside in (1994) and Action conversations (2008).
There will also be screenings of a series of Frantz Fanon films. Each film will be preceded by a brief introduction from a participant in the colloquium ‘Fanon: 50 Years Later’ being hosted by the ‘Thinking Africa’ programme of the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University. The films include Frantz Fanon: His life, his struggle, his work/Sa vie son combat, son travail (France/Algeria 1998), Black skin, white masks (UK 1996), The Battle of Algiers/La battaglia di algeri (Italy/Algeria 1965) and Driving with Fanon (South Africa 2009).
The Think!Fest venue is primarily the Blue Lecture Theatre, Eden Grove (unless otherwise stated). All talks are 1 hour, and panel discussions and debates are 1 hour 30 minutes. All events are R20.
Tickets are available through Computicket. Booking kits available from selected Standard Bank Branches, selected Exclusive Books and all Computickets. For more information on the programme, accommodation and travel options visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za. Also join the National Arts Festival group on Facebook for all the latest competitions and news, or follow us on Twitter. Call 046 603 1103 for more info.
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Sunday Independent and M-Net.
