Attendance of festivals in South Africa show a decline

Research done by the Institute for Tourism and Leisure Time Studies of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus indicates a general decline in people attending festivals and art festivals in South Africa.
  Prof. Melville Saayman, head of the Institute, says they have been doing research at several South African festivals such as Aardklop, KKNK, Volksblad, Inni Bos and Grahamstown since 2002. 
  He says the research shows that several factors play a role in the decline, such as a sharp increase in the growth of new festivals, a decrease in sponsorships (due to the recession), as well as the fact that artists have a variety of opportunities where they can perform.
  He further points out that it seems that South Africans are busy reaching a satiation point. “The situation can influence the arts negatively and especially the large art festivals in term of the future of certain genres such as theatre, drama and word art, which mostly are presented at large festivals. At the present tempo, it can also lead to the over-commercialisation of the arts.”
  He pleads for introspection regarding the presentation of new festivals, as well as the compilation of festival programmes. “Practically all festivals currently also present selective genres that mainly entail popular music. It contributes to an explosion of Afrikaans music, but which is not necessarily of good quality.”
  For more information, contact Prof. Melville Saayman at (018) 299 1810.

Prof. Melville Saayman