THE National Arts Festival (NAF) justified a R30-million spend on its 40th birthday extravaganza by growing its attendance from 211 701 last year to a new record of 225 538.
The figures, released by NAF CEO Tony Lankester, showed an increase of 13837 or 6.5% compared to last year, and also growth of 21.4% over the last five years.
The R30-million is made up of ticket sales and a range of funding and sponsorships, said Lankester.
In a time of recession and higher living costs, he said it was gratifying that people found "space in their budgets" to be a part of the festival.
Attendance at the event grew by 6.5% over 2013, and the new figure represents 21.4% growth over a rolling 5-year period. "Last year we began looking at our
In 2013, the festival recorded a decline of decline of 7000 visitors compared to 2011.
Lankester and creative director Ismail Mahomed attributed the increase in attendance to the diversity of arts on offer.
Lankester said: "Last year we began looking at our numbers over a period of time rather than a year-by-year basis," Lankester said. "This gives us a better idea of audience trends over five years, and can be more informative than snapshots of a moment in time."
The biggest growth this year came from sales on the Main programme, attributable largely to an expanded programme aimed to commemorate the Festival’s 40th birthday, and from attendance at a greatly increased number of free performances and activities aimed at the broader Grahamstown commu nity.
"Ticket sales, in rand terms, also hit a new high, breaking R7m for the first time. This puts more money into the pockets of performers than ever before," Lankester said.
Another pleasing aspect of the Festival in 2014 was the expansion of activities into township spaces. "We are acutely aware that we operate in a deeply divided city and, while we can’t hope to change that single-handedly, we hope we can make a difference for the short period in which the Festival operates," Lankester said.
Record attendance at National Arts Festival's 40th
The figures, released by NAF CEO Tony Lankester, showed an increase of 13837 or 6.5% compared to last year, and also growth of 21.4% over the last five years.
The R30-million is made up of ticket sales and a range of funding and sponsorships, said Lankester.
In a time of recession and higher living costs, he said it was gratifying that people found "space in their budgets" to be a part of the festival.
Attendance at the event grew by 6.5% over 2013, and the new figure represents 21.4% growth over a rolling 5-year period. "Last year we began looking at our
In 2013, the festival recorded a decline of decline of 7000 visitors compared to 2011.
Lankester and creative director Ismail Mahomed attributed the increase in attendance to the diversity of arts on offer.
Lankester said: "Last year we began looking at our numbers over a period of time rather than a year-by-year basis," Lankester said. "This gives us a better idea of audience trends over five years, and can be more informative than snapshots of a moment in time."
The biggest growth this year came from sales on the Main programme, attributable largely to an expanded programme aimed to commemorate the Festival’s 40th birthday, and from attendance at a greatly increased number of free performances and activities aimed at the broader Grahamstown commu nity.
"Ticket sales, in rand terms, also hit a new high, breaking R7m for the first time. This puts more money into the pockets of performers than ever before," Lankester said.
Another pleasing aspect of the Festival in 2014 was the expansion of activities into township spaces. "We are acutely aware that we operate in a deeply divided city and, while we can’t hope to change that single-handedly, we hope we can make a difference for the short period in which the Festival operates," Lankester said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos