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National Arts Festival Extends Its Hands to Partner With WITS 969 Festival 2010

The National Arts Festival Grahamstown, one of the worldís iconic arts events, is proud to announce its partnership with the WITS 969 Festival and Arts Alive for the first time in 2010.

The all-new WITS 969 Festival 2010 is a selection of highlights from the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown 2010 which makes the 969 km journey from Grahamstown to the Wits Theatre and its additional venue partner for this year, the Market Theatre.  "I would like to see Wits Theatre partnering with more venues and producers to present future installments of WITS 969," said Ashraf Johaardien, the new General Manager of Wits Theatre.

Since its inception six years ago the WITS 969 Festival has developed into a highly regarded slot in the South African theatre calendar. Wits 969 offers a Johannesburg platform for new, independent and conceptually exciting work from the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown and presents a total of 30 performances of outstanding music, theatre and dance, as well as hosting the Gauteng National Schools Festival under the Wits 969 banner.

"For 37 years we have celebrated, embraced and cherished all that is good in the South African arts world, and part of our mission is to create multiple opportunities for our artists to express themselves through song, dance, words and film," said National Arts Festival Director Ismail Mahomed."The 969 Festival is a logical place for us to be. Not only does it showcase some of the best work from this yearís National Arts Festival, but it subscribes to the same core value we do, namely a quest for innovative, bold creative expression," he added.

The 969 programme includes many productions that received a Standard Bank Ovation Award at this yearís National Arts Festival. ìItís work that we are proud to be associated with, and we are confident that it will move and inspire Johannesburg audiences,î said National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester. "We look forward to a long and sustained relationship between our two Festivals," he added.

Commenting on the new partnerships that have been secured for Wits 969 Festival this year, Johaardien said: "The compelling line-up of dance, theatre and music that we have compiled for the sixth installment of the WITS 969 Festival is made possible by an equally amazing alignment of passion, energy and resources. I commend Arts Alive and the National Arts Festival for their vision and support."

The productions fresh from the National Arts Festival 2010 stages that can be seen at this yearís WITS 969 Festival include Without Blood, Molly Bloom, elev(i)ate2, Backstory, Mbeki And Other Nightmares, Kaput, Little Poof!, Kruispad, Nibs Van Der Spuy, The Soil and The Butcher Brothers.

Please visit www.wits.ac.za/witstheatre or www.artsalive.co.za for programme details and ticket prices. Bookings can be made online at www.strictlytickets.com or by calling 073 725 7381.
Wits 969 is sponsored by Arts Alive 2010 and the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.

The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Sunday Independent and M Net.

For more information please contact Cathy Pisanti on 011 717 1376 or e-mail catherine.pisanti@wits.ac.za. Complimentary tickets are available to the media on request.

Ends

Note to editors

About the Wits 969 Festival: In 2004 the 969 Festival was created with the support of the City of Johannesburgís Economic Development Unit as a means of economically empowering performing artists.  The City of Johannesburg provided funding for the 969 Festival for three years and the project originally included the Market Theatre, the Dance Factory and Wits Theatre.  After 2006 Wits Theatre became sole custodian of the 969 Festival, which is now called The WITS 969 Festival. The Festival continues to emphasise economic empowerment of the participating artists by targeting new independently produced work. Creating additional platforms in the South African theatrical calendar creates the possibility of longevity for creative work. However what remains central and significant to the development aims of the festival is that new opportunities are created for artists and students are encouraged to learn managerial and administrative skills, and to enhance the development of the city as a site of creative exploration.

About the National Arts Festival: The National Arts Festival, now in its 37th year, has proved its sustainability and has grown to be one of the leading arts festivals in southern Africa. Its objectives are to deliver excellence; encourage innovation and development in the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South African artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international artists; and build new audiences.

ISSUED BY        :        THE FAMOUS IDEA TRADING CC
ON BEHALF OF        :        NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL, GRAHAMSTOWN
CONTACT        :        GILLY HEMPHILL / CILNETTE PIENAAR
TEL            :        021 886 4900
CELL            :        082 820 8584
EMAIL            :        gilly@thefamousidea.co.za