SACPN Forum on the National Arts Festival
Tony Lankester presenting the model for a smaller Fringe from 2020

SACPN Forum on the National Arts Festival

The nascent South African Cultural Policy Forum hosts its first public event at the Market Theatre

Is the National Arts Festival in decline or are the challenges it faces opportunities for renewal?  This was the gist of the first public forum hosted by the new SA Cultural Policy Network (SACPN) at Gramadoelas on Tuesday 27 August.  Mxolisi Masilela, Ameera Patel and Phyllis Klotz shared their views on the topic, after which Tony Lankester, outgoing CEO of the Festival, presented a new model for the Fringe which provoked much debate.  A key feature of the new model was the proposed selection of work via a lottery.  A similar forum was held the next day at the District 6 Homecoming Centre for Cape Town stakeholders.