At a historic meeting hosted by Anthony Harris of ART EVENTS, Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), key role players in Arts Institutions of Nelson Mandela Bay, National Arts Festival Directorate and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism it was agreed by all that they will form a partnership to develop a sustainable Creative Arts industry in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The partnership will be mutually beneficial to all concerned. It is noted that tourists enjoy the Arts, Culture and Heritage of an area that they visit, and locals take pride of their cultural heritage and art.

The National Arts Festival, held in Grahamstown in June / July each year, attracts in excess of 210,000 ‘Festinos’ over 10 days of this AMAZING festival. With our partnership, a number of venues of the ARTS JOURNEY will form part of the Fringe programme in 2011 and beyond. Five venues, with eight exhibitions, will be part of the 2011 National Arts Festival based in Nelson Mandela Bay – we anticipate more ‘Creative Collectives’ to join and increase the participation in coming years.

The ARTS JOURNEY website (facilitated and maintained by ART EVENTS) was established to introduce all the Creative Arts and Culture / Heritage found in Nelson Mandela Bay to the world at large, and promote tourist and local enjoyment of our creativity.

The website is open to ALL Creative Collectives, institutions and groups in Nelson Mandela Bay who would like to promote their creativity to a wider audience.

Please contact Anthony Harris, the facilitator of this initiative, if you would like your organisation to be listed on www.artsjourney-nelsonmandelabay.co.za