About Spier Arts

ABOUT THE AFRICA CENTRE

Historically known as the Spier Arts Summer Season, the Spier Arts Festivals were established in 1996. The Spier Arts Festivals are rooted in the Africa Centre’s raison d’etre – a space where the visual, intellectual and performance cultures of Africa are celebrated, studied and brought to life for diverse audiences in innovative ways. These Festivals are a celebration of African excellence in the performing arts; promote South African artists; provide opportunities for collaboration with Pan-African artists; and build new audiences for the arts.

Contact the Africa Centre

• Tel: +27 (0)21 422 0468
• Email: info@africacentre.net
• Home: www.AfricaCentre.net

• Read more about the Africa Centre

THE HISTORY OF SPIER ARTS

The first summer arts season was presented at Spier in 1996. Its founder, former MP and businessman, Dick Enthoven wrote:

“South Africa in general and the Western Cape in particular is almost obscenely blessed with a huge reservoir of enviable talent, but there has been so little opportunity for it to develop and mature. Let us hope the Winelands of the Cape will provide fruitful soil not only for our glorious wines, but also for a Summer Performing Arts Festival that, in the not too distant future, will be internationally recognised as important. This will enable the discovery and nurturing of new and exciting talent, provide festival goers with a sense of occasion and enrich the local community both culturally and economically.”

MAKING THE DREAM A REALITY

• Ten years later this dream has become a reality. Each year the Spier Arts Summer Season is received with widespread critical acclaim by South African and international press, as well as our audiences. The Festival has established a strong reputation for the quality and diversity of performance achieved over its annual season.
• Over the years the development of relationships with the business sector has proven to be a viable and mutually valuable way of sustaining and nurturing broad spectrum cultural activity.

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