How did the idea for the Cape Town Carnival originate and what was the inspiration behind it?
The Carnival first took place in 2010 on Long Street, with about 11 000 spectators gathering to watch the show. Community upliftment, social cohesion and employment opportunities were some of the biggest motivating drivers of the Carnival’s inception.
Do you have a vision and mission in place? If yes, what is it?
Our mission is based on three core goals:
To provide opportunities for community groups to participate in arts and culture projects, while creating a hub for clothing, costume and set-building industries in the Western Cape.
Creating employment in textiles, costumes design and production, float building and large-scale vents logistics.
Enhance social cohesion by enabling a celebration of arts and culture that transects different spheres of people in Cape Town.
What measurements are in place in terms of crowd control?
The Cape Town Carnival’s parade route is barricaded all along its course, with restricted access tents and other areas interspersed among the open sections of the route along which spectators gather. In addition, a full, comprehensive crowd management and event logistics plan was drawn up and approved during the application process with the City of Cape Town. The City will also be deploying additional officers and other resources where necessary.
What were some of the themes for the previous years and how do you decide on a theme?
2017 was Amaza! Ocean Odyssey, while 2018’s theme is Mother City, Mother Nature.
Where do the funds come from to sustain this event?
The Cape Town Carnival is generously supported by sponsors, who this year include Tsogo Sun, Kfm, M-Net, DStv, Media24, the Western Cape Provincial Administration, the City of Cape Town and the national Department of Arts & Culture. These organisations and institutions make the Carnival accessible to all Capetonians and out-of-towners alike.
How has this event boosted the tourism figures for the Mother City?
The South African Cultural Observatory, a creative economy think tank and the research arm of the national Department of Arts & Culture, conducted a survey of the 2017 event and found some interesting statistics.
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How do you decide on what/who will work for the festival and what won’t?
The Cape Town Carnival’s Artistic Director, Brad Baard, is the creative genius with final say on what makes it onto the parade course and what stays behind. encompasses an inclusive, diverse, dynamic, vibrant and lively view of what art in Cape Town should be, and how the Mother City should be portrayed and celebrated to the world.
CAPE TOWN CARNIVAL
JAY DOUWES
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