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[FILE IMAGE]: Actors on stage.
The Eastern Cape provincial government will officially open the 51st edition of the National Arts Festival in Makhanda today.
The prestigious cultural event is scheduled to take place from today until the July 6. It promises to be a vibrant celebration of theatre, dance, music, comedy, visual art and film.
There will be over 2,400 performances that showcase local and international artists.
MEC of Sports, Recreation Arts and Culture, Sibulele Ngongo says the festival also brings a lot of economic spin offs for the province.
“The department has been partnering with the National Arts Festival for a number of years and with that we have realised the economic spinoff within the province. Without focusing on the creative space only, there is also hospitality and tourism spending that happens during the National Arts Festival. One can confirm that there are indeed important programmes that the Department is committed to. There is R2 million of the R14 million that has been ringfenced showcase the Eastern Cape talent,” says Ngongo.
