Hilton Arts Festival
Hilton College: 14 – 16 September
As always, the annual Hilton Arts Festival is completely accessible if you are on a budget with tons of free stuff to do over the weekend of 14 – 16 September.
A number of venues will host free music throughout the three days of the festival, from marimba bands, to festival favourites and never-been-seen-before new street performances.
Performing in the Amphitheatre are the youngsters from the Crawford La Lucia Drum Line. The Corona Festival Marquee will feature Boys on the Move and Going for Gold – both from Hilton College; the fabulous Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters; the Howick High School Band; Jono Johansen and Take Note. The stage in The Bistro hosts the Jazz Minkeys; John Ellis; Philani Ngidi and the Afro Divas, and The Kickstands.
Watch out as the streets become a hive of activity for four companies that will be offering entertainment for young and old. Street theatre comes alive with four ‘schools’ showing off their creations: Eden College with their environmental piece, iSimangaliso; Durban Actors’ Studios with Remote and Richard III and the Thembelihle School collaborating with the Hilton College Dramatic Arts Troupe, have a piece entitled Thembelihle that takes place in the Amphitheatre.
While strolling around the magnificent grounds of Hilton College, you can peruse the work of over 100 artists. Several separate art exhibitions are on the Hilton campus over the weekend. Featured here are photographer Harry Lock and his Out of Character portraits of former Hilton festival participants; I-Gebe, curated by Allen Kupeta in the Mem Hall ; Mandela – A Life’s Journey by John Meyer,a collection of numbered signed prints to be viewed in sequence and follow the story of Madiba’s life in Buzz Room, CFI Centre; Boyley’s World commemorating a centenary of landscape artist, Errol Boyley; the TOLERANCE statues; The RMB Think Bench; Strauss & Co Online Collection; The Artists’ Gallery; and regular exhibitors displaying art and craft from the area, The Midlands Meander.
Near the Bell Tower, the Perspective Art Exhibition fills three tents and features 62 individual artists. In the Raymond Slater Library you will find the Artisan Gallery and their Crafters’ Demos, Carol Slabolepszy’s My Hares and Graces; Maelstrom Photography; Joe Govo Ceramics and handmade and painted pottery.
Soaking up the fine weather, you can meander around a variety of stalls at the various craft markets located in-between the main festival venues which typically stock a carefully curated selection of beautiful fare – from jewellery to fresh proteas; children’s clothing to silver jewellery; family crests to bird feeders; hats and accessories to leather shoes and larger-than-life art made from repurposed metal to hand-made wooden picture frames.
The festival would not be possible without the generous support of Hilton College, Grindrod Bank, Black Coffee Design, DWR Distribution, Extreme Events, Bidvest Car Rental, KZN Dept of Arts & Culture, Redlands Hotel, Assitej South Africa, Loud Crowd, Sappi, BASA, and Corona.
For more info visit http://www.hiltonfestival.co.za/ or like the Facebook page, Hilton Arts Festival. Follow us on Twitter @HiltonFest and Instagram . All enquiries on 033 383 0126 / 7 or tickets@hiltoncollege.com. The 26th annual Hilton Arts Festival will run from 14 to 16 September. The full programme is on www.hiltonfestival.co.za . Online bookings is open and programmes are available from various outlets in KZN.
