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The Feast of the Clowns has been part of the city’s calendar since 2000. It started as a small street festival, but has now established itself as the only annual festival in the inner city combining celebration and social justice. In 2009 the festival was attended by up to 25,000 people from all walks of life. Hosted by TLF in conjunction with other local role players, this is a home grown festival, locally owned and managed. The Feast celebrates the vibrant diversity of the inner city, it provides access to well-known artists and exposure to emerging community artists, it transfers artistic skills, and builds a sense of community. |
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We see whole, restored and empowered communities where people flourish in God’s presence |
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The 2009 festival was once again a huge success! The festival opened in real style. The School of Creative Arts had arranged an Art Factory on Women’s Day, showcasing professional and artistic local talent through poetry, drama and lots of music in the park. Throughout the whole week we had different activities happening. The social justice track launched the campaigns on Counter Trafficking and Rebranding Homelessness which were greatly attended. Both these campaigns were developed as a preparation towards 2010, wanting to highlight the plight of marginalized communities in our city. |
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IMPRESSIONS OF THE FEAST OF THE CLOWNS 2009 |
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The School of Creative Arts in partnership with African Window hosted a range of arts workshops, namely piano, guitar, percussion, dance, vocal training, drama and clowning. These aimed at the broader public and specifically often excluded communities, enabling people to discover the hidden gifts and talents unknown to themselves. The evening shows performed at the South African State Theatre were once again superb, starting with 4Seasons and Kwani Experience combining their talents under the theme “Live Without Fear” which certainly got the crowd moving. Soweto Gospel Choir did it again - even better! Their vibrant performance swept away the full house. Their opening acts were the Mennen siblings on saxophone and piano and our children from Salvokop Community Centre. Our very own School of Creative Arts (SOCA) staged an awesome production called “Blinding Sight” and the talent showcased was overwhelming. As every year the Saturday opened with a colourful street parade, this year including about 4000 people from all over Tshwane. Due to the partnership with the City of Tshwane the parade included cultural and dance groups, children dressed up in soccer gear (which was later put to good use during a street soccer tournament) and many clowns carrying banners relating to this year’s festival theme “and the blind will see”. During the rest of the day, which was filled with music from four stages, fun activities for the young and young at heart, circus performances, and loads of food, we were able to welcome approximately 20 000 people throughout the whole day. We closed off the week in style on Sunday at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Cathedral. For more information on the plans for 2010, please visit the Feast website: www.feastoftheclowns.org.za A city without festivals is a city without a soul. A city without laughter is a city without hope. A city without clowns will forget its frailty and bask in pride. The Feast of the Clowns will continue to bring laughter and a smile, to hear and broadcast the many cries of our people, and to create space for dialogue and encounter that will not leave us unchanged. |
