UNIVERSITY OF TRANSKEI

Department of African Languages
Private Bag X1 UNITRA Umtata Eastern Cape South Africa
Telephone: (047) 502 2674 · Fax: (047) 502 2419


FESTAC-FESTIVAL REVIVAL FROM 05 OCTOBER TO 09 OCTOBER 2004:
UNITRA

CONCEPT DOCUMENT

Given the lustrous history of the festac festival. members of the government and all sectors of civil society in particular women youth and private sectors have for a long time been showing interest in the revival of festac Responding to this demand the Department of African Languages UNIVERSITY OF TRANSKEI (UNITRA). Department of Sport Arts and Culture and O R Tambo Municipality has ochartrated partnership between interested stakeholders in effort to revive this international festival in line with NEPAD objectives, incorporating and facilitating into our ten years of freedom celebrations.

VISION
- To achieve greater unity and solidarity between African artists in an effort to
the realisation of African Renaissance in arts and culture.

MISSION
-To host the first permanent NEPAD festival in promotion of South Africa's national interest and values. The African Renaissance and the creation of a better world for all cultural works.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Items for discussion
Tackling the obstacle of growth and development of cultural works in Africa

Suggestion:

Conference/syrnposium (speakers to give public lectures on the subjects related to cornmercialization of the arts and also on the ten years delivery of democracy in developing the languages, culture, arts, technology and science.

Attendance:

Co-operation will be sort from the cultural offices of the Foreign Consulates to facilitate attendance of artists from their respective countries

Duration of the Festival:

Shall be five days with a variety of performances and exhibition running for the duration of the festival.

Festival Variety

Dance, filrn, music, drama - story telling. Psychics/amagqirha. reading sessions, poetry, international food buffet, crafts, arts, interior designs, children entertainment, dog shows, African pageant contest.

Possible sources of funding:

Department of Arts Sport and Culture O R Tambo district municipality, department of
Foreign Affairs, portent DTI, ECPACC, National lottery. Provincial government, foreign missions, Unitra, etc.





1. BACKGROUND

1.1 The government policy

The government envisages Arts & Culture utilised in achieving social development and economic empowerment Its mission sets out the achievement of equity as far as access to resources for arts, culture, heritage and language and the development of economic and creative potential of arts & culture through arts education and training and the alleviation of poverty by utilising Arts & Culture as a platform for sustainable job creation. The policy of the Department of' Arts & Culture is based on the following values' Access to. participation in, and enjoyment of the arts and cultural expression are the basic human rights not luxuries or pnvileges as we have been led to believe

1.2 Eastern Cape

'The Eastern Cape is the second poorest of South Africa's nine provinces. More than 70% all Eastern Cape households are living below minimum poverty standards. The province has a high population density in the east in the former Transkei and Ciskei rural "independent homelands". It suffers from a high unemployment rate. a high degree of male absenteeism and a high dependency rate where many family members are supported by one wage earner

With a population of 6, 3 million people, the Eastern Cape has the third largest population the country. The 1996 census figures reveal. Of these 2, 9 million are male and 3,3 million are female.

'The 1996 figures reveal that around 37% of the Eastern Cape's population live in urban areas as opposed to 63% who live in non-urban areas. Of the total South African population of forty-and-a-half million people, 36, 6% lives in urban areas.

In the Eastern Cape, around 86% of the population are African/Black: 7% are Coloured, 0, 3% are Indian/Asian and 5% are White. Among people aged 20 years and above, more than 20% have had no schooling at all, whilst 21% have had some primary education. Five percent of the province's people have a tertiary qualification, 11% have matric.

33% have had some secondary education and 9% have completed their primary education.
These provincial statistics are even more astounding considering that most of the poverty and accompanying social problems (illiteracy, violence, crime, drug abuse, delinquency etc.) are concentrated in the black populations of the former Transkei and Ciskei and the black townships adjacent to the major urban centres.

I.3 Beneficiaries
Performing artists, visual artists, crafters and language & literature practitioners.

1.4 Indirect Beneficiaries

The broader community of Umtata
Visitors and tourists will have a place of interest to visit and purchase authentic
artefacts
Service providers
Schools

1.5 Parties Involved

Arts Associations
Community
Municipality
Government
Business

1.6 Problems to be addressed

Unemployment and Poverty
Lack of skills
Lack of cultural facilities
Lack of opportunities to express cultural and artistic needs
Lack of material resources

2. INTERVENTION

Aims and Objects

- To establish an education training and recreational center that is accessible to all the Lukhanji
residents.
- To foster high standards of craftsmanship and a broad range of artistic and
cultural expression.
- To provide opportunities for artists to excel beyond their current skills levels
into new forms of expression, innovation and achievement.

Project Purpose

Training, support and development of artists ensuring growth in both business and artistic skills

Results

Highly skilled artists
Independent business people.
Self-sustainable artists.
Economic growth
Reduction of poverty
Well rounded entrepreneurs

2.4. Inputs

Accredited trainers
Equipment
Material