The V&A Waterfront has once again opened its stage to all buskers who would like to showcase their talents at the Neighbourhood Artist Auditions for the Easter weekend.
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The V&A Waterfront strives to be a haven for artists worldwide, offering a diverse array of performances. Visitors can immerse themselves in African beats, the rhythm of Goema, and various artistic expressions, from Rieldans to musicians, poets, circus acts, magicians, and entertainers.
The initiative forms part of the V&A’s Buskers Programme, which evolved from its inception with hundreds of performers that its stage has hosted since 1992.
‘We’ve experienced firsthand how buskers change how people react to and perceive a space – how relatively impersonal spaces are transformed into places imbued with identity and meaning – and how vital it is to support, nurture and promote the people who make this happen,’ the V&A wrote in a blog post last year.
‘This realisation inspired the creation of our Buskers Programme. It took its lead from the efforts of cities such as London, New York and Vancouver, where local entities manage busking programmes.
‘The V&A Waterfront was the first in South Africa to put a formal ecosystem into a place where our buskers could easily access information, develop essential business skills, and connect with like-minded creatives, markets and industry leaders.’
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The process starts with online applications. Performers are then selected after an audition process, now held every March. Then, performers are scheduled and rostered according to various performing sites.
Buskers also get the chance to participate in a comprehensive mentorship programme, aimed at supporting, developing and upskilling each busker via onsite monthly coaching workshops. During these workshops, participants learn how to manage themselves, draw up business plans, conduct financial best practices and even social media etiquette.
The V&A also provides bursary options for further study, career development, recording or travel.
‘We have built the programme to be a first of its kind, and some great success stories are that of Micaela Kleinsmith and Reinhard Buhr, who garners millions of views on his YouTube platform and has distinguished himself as a global performer.
‘He still comes back every summer to play the streets of The V&A,’ says Henry Mathys, Programme Manager of Social Inclusion and Placemaking at the V&A Waterfront.
This year, buskers are again invited to showcase their talents – be it dance, poetry, musical performances, circus and balancing acts, magicians, and entertainers.
Details:
- Date: Friday, 29 March, and Sunday, 31 March | 12pm to 4pm
- Location: The Amphitheatre, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
- Applications: Neighbourhood Artist Auditions
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Picture: Sofía Marvizón / Unsplash