Speaking at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Bay Cultural Festival at the Georgiou Boutique Hotel and Spar in Port Elizabeth, Deputy Executive Mayor Chippa Ngcolomba, said the festival must raise the profile of Nelson Mandela Bay as the lifestyle and entertainment capital of the Easter Cape Province and ultimately, feature prominently in the national schedule.
"We must position this metro as one of the most progressive performing arts centres encompassing music, dance, comedy, arts and craft in South Africa. We have to create a multi-faceted festival to encompass various outdoor and entertainment events, thus promoting the city as among the best tourist destinations in South Africa," he said.
He added that this platform must showcase Nelson Mandela Bay’s diverse tourism industry and should substantially boost SMMEs and township economy. "As we move forward, the impact of this festival must be positively felt by our people. We need to develop sustainable business and investment opportunities and this must become a key focus for businesses and governments alike."
"Let us support this initiative and celebrate our creative artists. Let us put Nelson Mandela Bay Metro in its rightful place. Let's use this opportunity to reach out to each other and do things better for the betterment of our people."
He said the launch of the Nelson Mandela Bay Cultural Festival is of great significance to the entire city and all its communities and cultural groupings. "This event heralds a new era in which the Municipality will establish closer links with local artists, communities and groups.
"It is vital that we recognise the great value of the arts and culture sector. In so doing, we will also be learning to appreciate who we are and where we come from and to honour the legacy of all those who preceded us."
He assured artists that the municipality will do things differently and work close with them. "Our cultural activists, our creative and performing artists, and gifted children of Nelson Mandela Bay are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the country. Many of them are revered internationally.
"It is clear that we have to do more as a city to develop and appreciate the creative minds in our midst and honour the legacy of those who came before us.
"This is where the Nelson Mandela Bay Cultural Festival can serve as an important platform to discover and expose young talent, celebrate our accomplished artists and preserve our cultural treasures."
The chairman of Harmocept, Anele Mbasane, said his organisation is delighted to be the implementing and operational agent of the Nelson Mandela Bay Cultural Festival behalf of the Metro.
"Our responsibility is to make sure that vision and the mission of the Metro with regards to this festival and as espoused by the mayor is accomplished. Our intention is to make this festival a commercial success.
"A wonderful and beautiful city like Nelson Mandela Bay deserves such a prestigious property. This city cannot continue to sell itself short - it needs to find its way back to the top."
He added that the cultural festival presents a golden opportunity for that repositioning. He said this property must translate into the tangible economic benefits for the township economy. "This we shall do through supporting local SMMEs like catering, transport, accommodation, arts and craft, entertainment, printing; and creation of livelihood opportunities through short-term jobs.
To ensure that all or most participating groups are exposed to the opportunity, every attempt will be made to hold auditions as far and wide across the municipalities as possible. Owing to the magnitude of the envisaged project, performances, exhibitions, workshops have been spread all over.
The festival will be held between 03 July and 02 August 2015. Mbasana undertook to make further announcements aimed at adding more value to the festival.
Article by Harmocept on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Bay Cultural Festival.
