The City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture Department today launched the new Public Art and Busking Guidelines brochure aimed at promoting public art and fostering creativity in the city. Read more below:
The launch of the new Public Art and Busking Guidelines brochure by the City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture Department, cements the City’s commitment to developing an enabling environment to facilitate busking and to raising awareness of the importance of busking in the performing arts environment.
The launch was attended by the newly elected Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Economic Development, Councillor Eddie Andrews, in partnership with The Cape Town Buskers Festival which forms part of the Cape Town Fringe.
The festival, the first of its kind in South Africa, will celebrate street performers of all kinds, including acrobats, musicians, mimes, and circus acts.
‘Public art has become an important focus for the City as it enriches communities and our environment. This all contributes to improving our quality of life. We are therefore committed to creating an enabling environment for public art, showcasing the city’s creativity and nurturing local art and artists. The promotion of public art is critical and a priority for us,’ said Councillor Andrews.The Public Art Standard Operating Procedures document was recently adopted. This document governs procedures and decision making on all aspects related to public art and busking in the City of Cape Town.
‘The document demonstrates and formalises our commitment to public art, ensures transparency and accountability, provides the structure and scope for placing works of art in public spaces within the City, and provides guidelines relating to busking and street performances in public places,’ explained Councillor Andrews.
The new brochure is available in three languages at subcouncil offices.
‘Busking allows for creative, innovative and out-of-the-box art to find its own audience. It can nurture a stronger understanding and appreciation of arts and culture. We are very excited that we have this platform, the Cape Town Buskers Festival brought to Cape Town by the Cape Town Fringe, to launch this tool that would be so helpful to buskers and public art practitioners. We encourage Capetonians and local street performers to support the festival,’ said Councillor Andrews.
The Buskers Festival will run at the V&A Waterfront until Sunday, 9 October 2016.
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