French photographers. And what’s special about it was that it
projected an interesting landscape of our beloved country.
An undoubted highlight was the illumination of the Eiffel Tower
in the colours of the South African flag. More than 200 million
people have visited the Eiffel Tower since its construction in
1889, including 7,1 million people in 2011. The Tower is simply
the most visited paid monument in the world. It was, therefore,
with particular pride that we were able to light up this iconic
monument.
My passion and support for the arts wills us to reach the ultimate
objective of the Seasons, which is to see the two nations advance
towards a better, more humane and caring world through greater
cooperation in the fields of arts, culture and heritage, science
and technology, sport and business.
For more information see www.france-southafrica.com or
@nacsouthafrica
• Bongani Tembe, currently serves as the CommissionerGeneral of the France-South Africa Seasons 2012 & 2013.
As an artist he has performed in many parts of the world
and has contributed positively to the arts and culture
environment in South Africa and internationally. Mr. Tembe
was a member of UNESCO’s Scientific Committee on
Arts Education. He is the longest serving board member
of South Africa’s National Arts Council and since 2002,
he has been a member of the International Society of
the Performing Arts. He is currently the Chief Executive
and Artistic Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic
Orchestra. Mr Tembe holds a Bachelor and Master of
Music degrees from the prestigious Juilliard School in
New York and has undertaken further studies at Columbia
University and at the London Business School.
• The France-South Africa Seasons 2012 & 2013 is a
reciprocal programme to afford the institutions and the
people of France and South Africa an opportunity to
understand each other better through cultural, scientific,
sport, education and business engagement. The South
African Season in France in 2013 has featured more than
1000 South African participants who have been involved in
more than 250 events across 150 cities in France.
• South Africa’s tourism industry is a key focus for
development in the lead up to the Department of Arts and
Culture’s Mzansi’s Golden Economy strategy which aims
to raise the profile of the arts, culture, and heritage sector.
In a bid to create jobs, open up new markets and build
sustainable livelihoods for those in the creative industries.
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• For several years, France has been engaged in a series
of reciprocal Seasons with its key international partners
(China, Japan, India, Turkey, Russia and Brazil among
others). South Africa is the first sub-Saharan country to be
involved in such a Season with France.
• The goal of the France-South Africa Seasons 2012 & 2013
is to improve mutual understanding and contribute to the
diversification of France’s image in South Africa and South
Africa’s image in France by emphasising the modernity
and values that the two countries share.
• This year, between May and December, the French public
will be treated to a wide range of over 250 dance and
theatre performances, 100 musical concerts, 50 movies,
40 residencies, 35 workshops, 30 exhibitions, and 150
South African wines will be available for the French to taste.
Cultural events will be combined with an array of events
in other fields: innovation, science and technology, higher
education, business, tourism, sport, languages and more.
Projects, performances and initiatives will be across 100
cities in France.
• The aim is for the French public to fully engage with the
South African Season and to enjoy all that the country
has to offer and comes ahead of preparations for the
celebration of South Africa’s 20th Anniversary of freedom
and democracy.
• Participants were selected to be part of the Seasons through
a series of open calls for applications. These applications
are reviewed by a series of technical meetings, led by
the Commissioners General that make recommendations
to the Seasons governing structure, the Joint Organising
Committee (JOC). The JOC comprises the Chairpersons
of Seasons, representatives from the Department of Arts
and Culture, the National Arts Council (NAC) and the
Institut français, and is attended by all participants on the
technical meetings.
Bongani Tembe was appointed by the Department of Arts
and Culture:
• To organise the arts and culture programme of the Memorial
and Funeral of Nelson Mandela
• To act as musical director for the Memorial and Funeral of
Nelson Mandela
• In addition, Bongani and his wife – Linda Bukhosini –
performed a duet at the funeral of Nelson Mand [K