about the exhibition

The 2001 Sasol exhibition curated by Marcus Neustetter at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees presents a range of South African artists, each of which will be showing two works related in subject matter, however in different media; one work in digital format and the other one of the more traditional media. In this way the exhibition creates relationships between artists' works on the screen and off the screen - switch on/off. The translation of the production of the sculptural, photographic or pictorial works into either computer specific, digitally manipulated or even interactive pieces has become interesting in the relationship of art and technology. Artists such as Norman Catherine and Stephen Hobbs have been exploring shifts of their concepts to incorporate digital interactivity of CD Rom artworks. Abrie Fourie translates his photographic works into screensavers and Tracy Gander her landscapes into digital horizons. Other artists exhibiting transformations from the sculptural, performance and two-dimensional works into the virtual environment created by technology are Brad Hammond, Mark Edwards, Robin Rhode, Kim Lieberman and Stefanus Rademeyer. The digital works are presented on state of the art equipment sponsored by LG Electronics.

opening:
Saturday the 7th of April at 17:30 with the SASOL opening function for the KKNK Visual Arts

walkabout:
Sunday the 8th of April at 11:00

introductory presentation and discussion:
On Monday the 9th of April art critic Lucia Burger will be leading a discussion on the relationship of technology and art. After an introductory presentation, the audience can participate in an informal discussion with some of the artists and the curator of Switch on/off. The presentation by Lucia Burger will commence at 11:00 at the Principia College.

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history of the festival

The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees ­ a South African celebration and enhancement of the arts through the medium of Afrikaans ­ originated from an idea that was formulated between a businessman from Oudtshoorn, Nic Barrow and a former Public Relations Manager for Naspers, Andrew Marais in January 1994. Since the first festival in 1994, it was quite clear that the people of South Africa had a definite need for an independent, inclusive arts festival, which give each South African a platform to perform while at the same time rid them of baggage from the past. The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees accommodate both visual and performing arts i.e. drama, cabaret, musical theatre, classical music, jazz and light music. Open-air concerts have become a unique characteristic of the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees and apart from South African artists like Juluka, Mango Groove, David Kramer and Laurika Rauch, the well known Herman van Veen from Holland and the Flying Pickets from Britain made their debut in Africa under the starry splendour of the Klein Karoo. Oudtshoorn attracts about 1000 artists in more or less 200 productions and exhibitions yearly over eight days. The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is about more than the arts. Since our first year the festival was about an overall experience ­ visitors are not only entertained with the best in artistic productions, but also on our unique food, wine and tourists attractions of this region.

attendance

The attendance at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees showed remarkable growth after a modest beginning in 1994 :

1995 - 30 314
1996 - 61 297
1997 - 81 310
1998 - 99 100
1999 - 104 028
2000 - 128 927

It is however not possible to calculate the exact number of visitors to the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees for some does not necessarily buy tickets for the shows. An additional 40 000 people are reached through an Outreach Project, which takes place in sixteen developing communities around Oudtshoorn, ahead of the main festivities.

The make-up of the audience:

93% of visitors speak Afrikaans (First Language)
57% is married, while 31% is single.
59% has a degree, while 27% has a diploma
43% has a monthly income of R10 000, while 20% earns between R6 000 and R9 999 per month.
An even number of men and women attend the festival
48% of visitors come from the Western Cape, 23% from Gauteng, 9% from the Eastern Cape and 7% from the Free State. Overseas visitors counts for about 2% of the visitors during the festivities.

impact of the festival

NATIONAL
According to estimated ticket sales (i.e. visitors) the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is the biggest South African arts festival at present. The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology recognize it as a national arts festival.
That the creative powers of the Afrikaans arts have its headquarters in Oudtshoorn, with the festival becoming the Mecca where new productions are staged, to be performed elsewhere in South Africa during the rest of the year, is common knowledge in the entertainment sector.
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees has become a brand name, synonymous with the experience of quality by visitors, artists, sponsors and the media. We had positive feedback from both English and Afrikaans media at the end of the festival in 2000.
With the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees being politically, culturally and religiously independent, visitors from all walks of life (i.e. different political parties, race, denomination etc.) seemed to feel at home at the festival.

LOCALLY
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees managed to represent a remarkable economic growth for the Klein Karoo. About R60 million was injected into this region in 2000, and well as a result of the festival. The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees thus came to the rescue of the shaky local economy and the community as a whole benefit from this economic infuses. Local schools like Bridgton Senior and Junior Secondary that had no additional financial support before, had a turnover of R407 000 at their festival restaurant in 2000. Schools now have the opportunity of renting out their hostels, halls, grounds, furniture etc. for the duration of the festival.
Apart from representing economic growth, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees also represents an awareness of the arts as a possible career path to the local youth. Since the beginning of the festival in ¹94 there was an awakening in local talent and numerous local artists already applied to stage their productions at the festival.

community involvements

The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is proud of the fact that the festival is held in one of the most beautiful regions of South Africa and works purposefully toward the development of opportunities for the local community. The following projects and initiatives are testimony to the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees' commitment to the upliftment of the community:

Outreach Project : This project takes place ahead of the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in the smaller towns of the Klein Karoo. It is a miniature reproduction of the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees and consists of music, drama, workshops and productions for children. Artists from all over South Africa as well as those from the local community take part in this programme.

Book Project : Books ­ especially for children and youth ­ are collected from all over South Africa to be spread amongst schools where shortage of books exists. This project was started in March 1999 and already more than 500 000 books were collected and distributed amongst schools, jails, shelter etc. These books are classified by educationalists, to ensure that only books of quality are distributed.


security

Oudtshoorn is a peaceful and tranquil rural town with a very low crime rate, but as the town has an influx of visitors from all over South Africa during the festival, extra safety precautions are taken to ensure an enjoyable stay.
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in conjunction with the South African Police has two control rooms on the premises to ensure the safety of the visitors to the festival. Paramedical services are also available on the grounds.

 Cultural Heritage

After standard-bearer Izak Schrijver came over the Outeniqua Mountains through the attakwas Kloof on 28 January 1689, he had his first view of the Olifants River Valley. Later, this valley would develop into a flourishing farming community due to the prosperous tobacco and ostrich industry. Here, an economical and cultural heritage would develop which would manifest itself in elegant sandstone buildings of which many have been declared National Monuments.

The town was planned by land surveyor J. Ford in 1847/1848 on the farm Hartebeestriver, property of C. P. Rademeyer and was named after the wife of the Magistrate of George at that time. She was a descendent of Baron van Rheede van Oudtshoorn, Governor of the Cape.

Agriculture

Mainly mixed farming. Oudtshoorn is the oldest tobacco-producing region and at present one of the main production regions in the country.

Approximately 90% of the Lucerne seed of South Africa are cultivated here. More than 90% of the finer vegetable seed are cultivated here and onion seed is largely exported to the USA.
Lucerne was cultivated for the first time in the Wynandsriver region by a French settler, De Marillac. There are presently about 110 000 ostriches in the Oudtshoorn area and this is under strict control of the Klein Karoo Agricultural Co-operative. The total turnover in 1984 was about R50 000 000.

Tourism

In addition to the wonderfully refreshing and healthy dry climate, Oudtshoorn boasts with the breathtaking beauty of the Outeniqua Mountains in the South and the mighty Swartberg Mountain Range in the North, the ostrich farms, the secretive Cango Caves, the frightening spectacle of the crocodiles being fed and the tame cheetahs and other animals at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, the interesting C.P. Nel Museum and Le Roux's Townhouse Museum, Arbeidsgenot (the home of the late poet and personality, senator C.J. Langenhoven) and the Angora Rabbit Show farm. There is no end to the unique and exciting attractions in this area.