Cape Town Arts Festival powered by Ariva Arts Foundation in partnership with the V & A Waterfront, Business Arts South Africa (BASA), PESP 4, and The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is calling for auditions for the Beyond Busking Programme which will be held on 19/20 September. Successful buskers (musicians only) will participate in a 3-month skills development programme at the V&A Waterfront.
The Beyond Busking Project started in 2022 as the brainchild of Yusuf Ganief, CEO of the Cape Town Arts Festival, as a response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on street artists and artists in general. Six buskers were chosen and taken through an upliftment and development program in songwriting, vocal training, stage presence, musical arrangement, and production. After performing on the big stage, their careers were ignited beyond all expectations. Zanie Mdloyi, the only female artist, went from street performing to an International 6-month gig in Spain.
“We are excited to partner with the Beyond Busking Project again this year. The V&A Waterfront is a premium destination for busking, and we support the development of buskers across the neighborhood through the V&A Buskers Programme. We believe that this collaboration with the Beyond Busking Project is an extension of our shared value approach and a continuation of our investment into this critical arts sector. Our partnership will add another layer of development and opportunity for local buskers. Together with the CT Arts Festival, we aim to change the perception of Busking in South Africa and take our rightful place in the international arena.” Says Henry Mathys, V&A Waterfront.
“With the success of last year’s Beyond Busking Project the Cape Town Arts Festival has formed a new partnership with the V & A Waterfront to increase the level of training and marketability of the buskers. The V&A Waterfront has been an iconic home for the City’s buskers, and I believe by pooling our resources we can over time reimagine the vision for busking in the City of Cape Town and South Africa. We are excited to repeat the success stories of last year and with so much more to offer, this year promises to be a life-changing programme for the chosen buskers.” Commented an enthusiastic Yusuf Ganief, CEO of the CT Arts Festival.
The Beyond Busking Programme 2023 will have auditions at the Castle of Good Hope on the 19th and 20th of September from 9 a.m. – to 3 p.m. Busking musicians who are not part of a PESP fund or receiving any government grants will qualify for the programme. They will have to register beforehand to be part of the auditions by sending their bio and any other marketing material to the CT Arts Festival office. Each busker will give a 5 -10 min performance to a panel of judges.
Selected buskers will enter an upskilling programme from October to January and receive training in songwriting, and musical arrangement in the studio. recording original material, master classes in stage presence, vocal training, and social media.
For further information and to apply for the auditions, please email your bio, sound bites, video material, and contact details to info@capetownfestival.org,.za or call Thabo at 084 894 6890.
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