Freedom to Create, an international organisation that promotes the application of the arts to effect positive social change, will have having their annual prize festival in Cape Town during November.
The festival will include a variety of events like workshops with expert practitioners, exhibitions, forum discussions, a documentary film festival, as well as the final prize event at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on Saturday 19 November 2011.
The Freedom to Create Prize is awarded to artists in recognition of their courage and creativity in using the arts to promote social justice and inspire the human spirit.
One of the highlights of the festival will be the Freedom to Create open-air exhibition along Government Avenue in the Company’s Gardens. This exhibition will be opened by former first lady Graça Machel and showcase some 60 riveting press and artistic photographs, all of which seek to encourage dialogue around social issues.
A series of workshops will be presented at the Fugard Theatre, all of which have been selected to creatively empower local charity groups. Dylan Valley will present a filmmaking workshop for the Mamelani Group that empowers women and children from marginalised communities. There will also be a dance workshop with Didi Moses, a creative writing workshop with Deon Meyer and professor Rozena Maart, as well as a photography workshop, a visual arts workshop and a dance workshop. All workshops will give an opportunity to individuals from trying circumstances to participate.
The empowerment of women is one of the main priority areas for Freedom to Create and for which the film The Lost Girls of South Africa will be dedicated, as well as a discussion forum.
More information about the various Freedom to Create events happening in Cape Town during November can be obtained by visiting www.freedomtocreate.com.