Beyond Fifty: A New Look and New Dates for the National Arts Festival
Our 50th celebrations are behind us and we’re stepping into an exciting future, starting with a fresh new look, as we prepare to welcome artists and audiences back to Makhanda from 26 June to 6 July 2025.
The Next 50 Years
It’s never been more important to connect in ways that inspire; working with others to solve problems and broaden our conversations. With this in mind, our new look signals a new interpretation for the National Arts Festival while still honouring our legacy – a legacy that, as an arts lover, is also yours.
The new logo moves forward from our old emblem of two celebratory hands. The hands remain but transform into an interplay of bold, clear shapes, open to interpretation. When looking at the logo some see hands, others eyes, network nodes, or pulley systems, mirroring the spirit of individuality at the Festival, where each person experiences it in their own way. What do you see?
Will you be with us in 2025?
The 2025 edition will once again measure the pulse of South African arts, bringing together curated exhibitions, thought-provoking performances, and a vibrant Fringe platform where independent artists from across the country and continent will take the stage. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or discovering the Festival for the first time, we invite you to be part of this dynamic and ever-evolving community.
Stay tuned for the full programme announcement in April 2025, and in the meantime, let’s keep the conversation going!
National Arts Festival Projects Happening Now
This month, the National Arts Festival’s team is in Nelson Mandela Bay producing the third Mandela Bay Arts Festival. A showcase of talent from the Bay, the event stimulates the local creative economy and boosts recognition for artists in the area. Take a look at the programme at www.mbaf.co.za and, if you’re in the area, come and experience it yourself.
Back in Makhanda, it’s time for Masicule, the NAF’s annual choral concert that sees choirs assemble for two concerts on 23 and 24 March in the Guy Butler Theatre, this year’s special guest artist is Buhlebendalo. Tickets will be available on Webtickets soon.
Our technical team is also hard at work preparing to stage the Assitej Artistic Gathering from 23-29 March in Marseilles, France.
More Exciting News…
We were thrilled to receive the news that our former CEO, Tony Lankester, has been appointed as the CEO of the Edinburgh Fringe. We wish him well in this exciting new role and trust his experience and passion for South African arts connects us across the miles.
“I’m going into the job in Edinburgh with the winds of Makhanda at my back. The National Arts Festival is what started my love affair with the arts world and I am forever grateful for the time I had there and what I learned about this industry. Being able to witness, first hand, the transformative power of the arts for performers and audiences and to be part of a city that, like Edinburgh, knows how to put on a great show are definitely things I will take with me into this new role.” – Tony Lankester
Here’s to the future of the arts – bold, imaginative, and always open to new possibilities. Get your Festival plans in place, your accommodation booked, because we’re looking forward – and hope you are too!
