The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Youth Arts Festival will kick off on 15 August at the Con Cowan Theatre in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.
Presented by UJ Arts & Culture (a division of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture), the UJ Youth Arts Festival endeavours to support the development of young people’s creative and artistic abilities. Taking place primarily in the evenings, this three-week celebration of young talent comprises an eclectic programme of theatre, comedy, dance, performance art, and workshops.
“[This] opportunity for young people to share the stage with their peers is far more than a benchmarking exercise,” says Head of UJ Arts & Culture, Pieter Jacobs. “We strongly believe in the power of real-life interaction and engagement, as a tool to grow audiences for the future. Additionally, the festival offers young performers a valuable opportunity to network with other young creatives, and we believe that such a personal and creative exchange has the potential to elevate the richness and quality of artistic work produced by tomorrow’s creative leaders,” he continues.
In addition to a number of UJ Arts & Culture’s programmes; productions, concerts and workshops by Oakfields College, Drama for Life, University of the Witwatersrand, AFDA, Tshwane University of Technology, Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC), Mzansi Foundation, Artists on a Mission, the Odwa Bongo Band, and 4Play Theatre Productions will also be featured.
The UJ Youth Arts Festival will take place from 15 August to 07 September, and will be presented at the University of Johannesburg’s Con Cowan Theatre on the Bunting Road Campus, as well as at UJ Arts Centre on its Kingsway Campus, also in Auckland Park. For more information or to book tickets visit www.uj.ac.za/arts.