Cape Town Jazz Fest a hub of empowermentThe 2013 Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) will be a hub of both empowerment and world class entertainment spread over eight days. Ten different initiatives now make up the Sustainable Training and Development (T&D) Programme of the festival, the 14th of its kind. Rashid Lombard, festival director and CEO of event company espAfrika, said: "This festival is now far more than just two days of music. We hold a variety of events and programmes that expand the love of music amongst the broader communities of Cape Town and develop musical talent and other skills in the South African music entertainment industry." As well as the Department of Arts and Culture, the SABC and the City of Cape Town, this year the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and the South Atlantic Arts and Culture Trust has come on board as a principal funder of the T&D arm of the festival. Said Lombard: "The involvement of our sponsors is crucial as our extensive range of programmes continue to expand year after year." Ten empowerment and skills-development initiativesPaul Mashatile, Minister of Arts and Culture, said: "The festival's 10 different empowerment and skills-development initiatives represent a powerful set of interventions that provide experiences and opportunities to individuals who would never otherwise have them. The Department of Arts and Culture is proud to be associated with this vital component of the annual jazz event as it opens up new opportunities and expands awareness of the power of arts and culture in our society." "The SABC has a long history with the CTIJF and during 2012 entered into a three-year partnership with Cape Town's grandest gathering. The partnership extends beyond broadcasting and talks to shared values and a desire for skills transfer to happen," said Kaizer Kganyago, spokesman of the SABC. "The SABC is proud to be the co-sponsor of the festival's T&D programme, aimed at a new generation of musicians, arts journalists and photographers. In order for measureable progress to take place from the T&D initiative, the focus should not be based upon short-term results only - developmental work requires longer time frames to deliver meaningful and lasting impact. Patricia de Lille, the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, said: "It is heart-warming to know that many children from in and around Cape Town are exposed to music, musical instruments and rhythms in an entirely new way. The city and this festival have a long track record together: the event attracts visitors to our city while its communities actively participate in the festival. Passionate about job creationNLDTF's CEO, Charlotte Mampane, said: "We at the NLDTF are involved in supporting arts and culture, together with welfare, sport and recreation. Under the leadership of our chairman, Professor Nevhutanda, we are all very passionate about the job creation in the various organisations we fund each year. Our investment to the South Atlantic Arts and Culture Trust for the T&D programme for this year's festival is a valuable investment for the development of the music and entertainment industry. The Sustainable Training and Development Programme for the 14th Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) includes the following:
The "Golf with a Cause Day" is another empowerment highlight of the annual festival. The event is held in support of the Caddie Foundation and has business and government leaders take to the course supported by some 60 individuals who are employed as caddies for the day. Four aspiring golfers will be selected from the group of caddies to play with the festival's golfing patrons and ply their sporting skills amongst the high-profile delegates. This year's golf day is taking place on Thursday, 4 April 2013. The SABC will also sponsor four promising caddies from the Caddy Foundation at the CTIJF's annual golf day. For more information on this year's event, go to www.capetownjazzfest.com. |