bea awards 2024

BCRMAG FEATURE | Nomfundo Moh Headlines Exciting National Arts Festival 2026 Music Programme The countdown to the 2026 National Arts Festival 2026 has officially begun, and this year’s music programme promises two unforgettable weekends of Afro-pop, gospel, jazz, choral music and pan-African celebration in the heart of Makhanda. Running from 25 June to 5 July 2026, the Festival has announced a vibrant line-up featuring celebrated artists, emerging voices and special commemorative performances that continue to position the Festival as Africa’s premier celebration of the arts. Among the biggest highlights are performances from 2026 Standard Bank Young Artists Gabi Motuba and Manana, alongside Afro-pop sensations Nomfundo Moh and Nontokozo Mkhize. The programme also celebrates musical legends and heritage through the 30-year

BCRMAG FEATURE | Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence with Mamsie Mashinini Founder of Mamosa Educational Institute and author of Revisit the Mirror (more…)

BCRMAG FEATURE | The National Arts Festival Fringe Holds Space for Bold New South African Stories The Fringe programme of the National Arts Festival 2026 is once again preparing to transform Makhanda into South Africa’s most exciting cultural laboratory, with more than 200 new productions arriving from all nine provinces this year. For decades, the Fringe has remained one of the Festival’s most daring and dynamic creative spaces — a home for stories that are experimental, emotional, political, funny, disruptive and deeply human. From theatre and comedy to dance, music, illusion, film and family productions, the Fringe continues to give artists a platform to challenge audiences and push artistic boundaries. This year’s programme reflects the diversity of South African storytelling

The 52nd edition of the National Arts Festival is preparing to transform Makhanda into a dynamic creative hub once again from 25 June to 5 July 2026, bringing together more than 2 000 artists and over 270 productions, performances, exhibitions, and experiences. But according to organisers, 2026 will not simply be about watching performances — it will be about participation, collaboration, and immersion. “This year's programme responds to the nexus of creativity and technology, emerging systems and collaborative world-building as the global ground moves beneath our feet,” said Rucera Seethal, Artistic Director of the Festival. “We've blurred

The National Arts Festival, in partnership with Standard Bank, has officially announced the 2026 recipients of the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Awards—a recognition that continues to shape the trajectory of South Africa’s most innovative creatives. This year’s cohort reflects a powerful shift in the arts landscape—where disciplines blur, storytelling expands, and artists move fluidly between tradition and global contemporary culture. 🎭 Meet the 2026 Visionaries Bronwyn Katz (Visual Arts)A sculptor and installation artist exploring memory, land, and alternative archives through material and embodied knowledge. Gabi Motuba (Jazz)A genre-defying vocalist and composer merging avant-garde jazz with philosophy, literature, and spirituality. Jason Jacobs (Theatre)A storyteller rooted in Nama-Khoi heritage, bringing indigenous narratives into contemporary theatre and film. Lee-ché Janecke (Dance)Internationally known