Event information
The University of Cape Town’s Institute for Creative Arts (ICA) hosts the prestigious Live Arts Festival, offering four days of immersive and thought-provoking culture to art enthusiasts in the Mother City.
Since 2012, this annual festival has provided audiences with the opportunity to engage with a dynamic live art experience in a non-commercial environment. The festival has a history of granting access to works by artists who challenge traditional forms, defy aesthetic norms, tackle controversial themes, confront audiences, and experiment with perceptions.
The festival showcases live art performances by renowned artists such as Nigeria’s Jelili Atiku, Mozambique's dancer and choreographer Pak Ndjamena, South Africa’s legendary performance artist John Nankin, the remarkable meta-dance artist Nelisiwe Xaba, Sello Pesa, and artist/academic donna Kukama, among others. Also making significant contributions are Chuma Sopotela, Qondiswa Jones, Tanzania's Sisi Dance Theatre, Gavin Krastin’s Arcade 2024, Oupa Sibeko, and Mthuthuzelii Zimba.
For the 2024 festival, Professor Jay Pather, the Director of the ICA and curator, has emphasized a South-South axis in the programming, with a focus on fostering conversations and relationships to facilitate a new geo-cultural program of collaboration, exchange, and networking. He aims for the program of this milestone edition to truly reflect the significant geopolitical changes of 2024.
The ICA’s 2024 Live Art Festival program features discussions and performances for attendees to enjoy.
