Breaking News
OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The 2020 Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) in Oudtshoorn has been cancelled.
The release below was issued by KKNK management this afternoon:
In light of growing concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic (also known as the Coronavirus), the management and board of the KKNK have decided that this festival in Oudtshoorn will not continue as planned from 23 to 29 March.
The decision was not taken lightly and was preceded by in-depth consultation with the main sponsor, ABSA, the respective national and local authorities, partners and other stakeholders.
"It is in the public interest of everyone involved in the festival - artists, business partners, visitors and residents of Oudtshoorn - that we made this difficult decision," says the Artistic Director of the festival, Hugo Theart.
Crispin Sonn, chairman of the board, endorses this view: "The festival has been an important date on the South African cultural calendar for the past 25 years and has had a major financial and social impact on the Oudtshoorn community. However, the increasing severity of the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to make this decision."
All stakeholders from the various sectors affected by this decision - artists, festival goers who have already purchased tickets, suppliers, and other partners - will be informed of the road ahead as soon as possible.
Several possibilities are on the table: The outcome will be determined by guidelines from the national government and the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic develops internationally.
Keep an eye on the KKNK's social media platforms and website for further announcements.
AFRIKAANS PERSVERKLARING:
In die lig van toenemende kommer oor die Covid-19-pandemie (ook bekend as die Koronavirus) het die bestuur en direksie van die Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees besluit dat dié fees op Oudtshoorn nie soos beplan van 23 tot 29 Maart 2020 sal voortgaan nie.
Die besluit is nie ligtelik geneem nie, en is voorafgegaan deur indringende konsultasie met gesondheidsowerhede, die plaaslike regering, die hoofborg, Absa, vennote en ander rolspelers.
“Dit is in die openbare belang van almal wat betrokke is by die fees – kunstenaars, sakevennote, besoekers en dorpenaars – dat ons dié moeilike besluit geneem het,” sê die Artistieke Direkteur van die fees, Hugo Theart.
Crispin Sonn, voorsitter van die direksie, beaam dié standpunt. “Die KKNK is reeds die afgelope 25 jaar ’n belangrike datum op die Suid-Afrikaanse kultuurkalender en het ’n groot finansiële en sosiale impak op die Oudtshoorn-gemeenskap. Die toenemende erns van die COVID-19-pandemie het ons egter genoop om dié besluit te neem.”
Alle rolspelers van die onderskeie sektore wat deur dié besluit geraak word – kunstenaars, feesgangers wat reeds kaartjies gekoop het, verskaffers, en ander vennote – sal so spoedig moontlik ingelig word oor die pad vorentoe.
Verskeie moontlikhede is op die tafel; die uitkoms sal bepaal word deur riglyne van die nasionale regering, en in hoe ’n mate die COVID-19-pandemie internasionaal ontwikkel.
Hou gerus die KKNK se sosiale media en webblad dop vir verdere aankondigings.
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