For one week around the March/April school holidays every year, Oudtshoorn is transformed from a quiet Karoo town to a bustling festival playground for all things cultural and artistic.
The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (referred to as the Absa KKNK) is an annual festival for the performing and visual arts, now in its 18th year. It was South Africa’s first arts festival targeting Afrikaans speakers as an inclusive linguistic community across racial or ethnic boundaries, and is aimed towards everyone who speaks and understands Afrikaans.
In light of this, the festival has received acknowledgement for its role as a bridge builder from, amongst others, former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. The organization presenting the festival has also started to undertake arts and educational initiatives in and around Oudtshoorn throughout the rest of the year. This includes audience development (to cultivate a diverse and informed festival audience for the future), the transferring of skills brought to the festival through the Klein Karoo Arts Academy and social development by means of art. Additionally, throughout August they present an intimate festival of classical music, fine art, food and wine – this is known as the “Klein Karoo Klassique”.
From children’s theatre, musical concerts, book launches to lifestyle exhibitions and cooking shows, the Absa KKNK has something for everyone. From 31 March to 7 April 2012 the entire town will open its doors. Shows and exhibitions will take place in various halls with colourful tents and theatres lining the streets.
For the full line-up of artists and events happening this year as well as for information on accommodation, please visit the Absa KKNK.
Follow this post through the RSS 2.0 feed.