Thobile Maphanga is set to raise the flag in Canada this June, collaborating with 35 fellow delegates to learn the ins and outs of festival management and raising the profile of arts festivals in South Africa.
Durban, South Africa (08 March 2022) – A festival is so much more than a big party; festivals are created to celebrate the arts, dance, music, poetry, and so much more with large groups of people. From food, culture, music and drink, South Africa plays host to festivals of all kinds.
Thobile Maphanga, a dance practitioner, producer, creative collaborator, and writer from Clermont, Durban, has been invited to represent South Africa at the prestigious Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Canada in June 2022.
The Festival Academy offers professional development and leadership training to festival makers globally as an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA). Thobile will be one of only 35 participants globally to attend this fantastic opportunity.
The training programme will run for seven days, and Thobile will have the chance to network with like-minded artists. Each participant hopes to become a festival director or festival-related management.
“I see the role of artists, cultural spaces, and festivals to be more vital now than ever and I am passionate about amplifying voices that have been othered and silenced.
I believe through festival platforms we can do this more frequently and effectively. I am eager to create spaces where people can commune and exchange ideas, thoughts, and provocations in a respectful manner & where diverse voices can be heard” – Thobile Maphanga
Thobile believes that her role as a mentee and choreographer for the Jomba Festival at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has prepared her for the spotlight on the international stage.
To make her dream a reality, Thobile set up a crowdfund to raise funds needed to pay for the trip. Donors were deeply supportive of her, and she has funded her trip.
“By contributing to this fund, you are assisting not only my personal growth but helping our community to remain relevant, connected, and ever-growing through sustainable practices. I am exceedingly proud to be representing South Africa on this global stage ”
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