THE CLARENS ARTS FESTIVAL IS CALLING!
The buzz is growing in the Eastern Free State as the village of Clarens prepares for its latest arts festival. Once again, top authors and performers will be gathering in the beautiful autumn surroundings to entertain and inform, and there will be plenty of inspiration from visual artists, demonstrations and workshops.
The packed programme kicks off on the afternoon of Friday, 24 April and runs until the afternoon of Monday, 27 April.
The village will throw open its doors and welcome you with its jubilant poetry event Free State, Free Verse featuring notable poets SIPHOKAZI JONAS, HELENA HETTEMA, RETHABILE POSSA and ZAMA MADINANA. It’s a free event, so come along to celebrate the magic of words in our three languages: Afrikaans, English and Sesotho.
From then on you’ll be spoilt for choice for music events such as the tribute act Amy Winehouse – The Diva and Her Demons and pianist CHARL DU PLESSIS performing music by Bach, Beethoven and the Beatles. Amongst others, look out for the Bloemfontein Children’s Choir, the Odeion String Quartet and the cabaret Rooiwyn & Green Sigrettes with CHRISTOF VAN DER BERG and KATE ROK.
There’s an awesome line-up of authors appearing, including one of SA’s most beloved writers and poets – and daughter of the Free State – ANTJIE KROG who will be in conversation with media doyenne RUDA LANDMAN. The esteemed judge EDWIN CAMERON will be tackling the state of the nation with the top investigative journalist KYLE COWAN and media commentator FERIAL HAFFAJEE.
The hugely popular DANA SNYMAN will be in town to beguile us with his stories, and his stage play Seun will also be presented for festival audiences. Another media star, LEON VAN NIEROP, will be talking all things murderous with crime writers DIBI BREYTENBACH and MARIETA CARRICK. One of the most fascinating talks will undoubtedly be How to Embrace AI with expert futurists BRONWYN WILLIAMS and DION CHANG, while one of the most amusing events features Dion again, talking about the pets who rule our lives. It’s the first time dogs will be welcomed to a book talk!
Festival favourite MELINDA FERGUSON will be back with two of her authors YEWANDE OMOTOSO and LINDIWE HANI, who will discuss their powerful fathers.
Melinda will also be running a workshop on WRITING YOUR WAY THROUGH GRIEF.
There are a host of workshops on offer, from painting and sculpting to printing, and for food enthusiasts the fabulous ELMARIE BERRY will be cooking a special three-course lunch.
A glossy new book on the sandstone houses of the Free State will be discussed with its author Jackie Kalley and historian Kathy Munro, together with the book about an award-winning garden in KZN by our own Michele Magwood.
Two literary productions will set new heights for the festival: first, a staging of the timeless dramatic poem UNDER MILK WOOD by Dylan Thomas, presented by a group of actors including TOBIE CRONJE and FIONA RAMSEY. There’s alsIngrid: ction of the moving, passionate Ingrid: ‘n Vlam in die Sneeu starring LIZELLE PIKE, which traces the life of the poet Ingrid Jonker.
Heading up the visual art offering this year, we are honoured to have the globally renowned sculptor ANTON SMIT showing his aweing works. For the first time we will also have a separate ceramics exhibition titled HIGHVELD CERAMICS: CURATED, a stunning display of finely crafted clay works. Leading ceramicists KEVIN COLLINS and EUGENE HON are just two of the exhibitors.
In another first, this year we are holding special author dinners for festival-goers. You can join such writers as Ruda Landman, Leon van Nierop and Bronwyn Williams for a relaxed and chatty evening over a good supper and a glass of wine.
Good news for families is that we are upping the quotient of Children’s Events for the younger members of the family, and we have set up several nature – and history – centred events on the programme.There will be walks and talks, adventures under the night sky and in the frosty early mornings and the chance to listen to Clarens’ great paleontologist and dinosaur expert Gideon Groenewald as he weaves tales of this extraordinary area.
After all, what would a visit to Clarens be without dinosaurs?
