03/10/2026
MEDIA STATEMENT
SAACYF FREE STATE CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS AND INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION IN DISTRICT FESTIVAL SELECTIONS
03 October 2026
The South African Arts and Culture Youth Forum (SAACYF) โ Free State acknowledges and welcomes the efforts of the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in opening applications for Free State Creative and Cultural Practitioners to participate in the upcoming District Festivals scheduled to take place during October 2026.
The District Festivals cover Thabo Mofutsanyana, Xhariep, Lejweleputswa, Fezile Dabi and Mangaung Metro, with applications having been open until 02 October 2026.
As the Forum representing and advocating for creative and cultural practitioners across the province, we now call upon the District Centre Managers and relevant officials to ensure that the selection and programming processes are conducted with transparency, fairness, accountability and inclusivity.
We believe that the District Festivals should create meaningful opportunities for artists and cultural practitioners across the entire Free State, particularly those who may not have had opportunities to participate in departmental programmes since the beginning of the year.
INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION MUST BE A PRIORITY
SAACYF Free State urges District Centre Managers to work closely with artists, creative practitioners, cultural organisations and other stakeholders throughout the selection and programme-development process.
Particular attention should be given to practitioners from small towns, rural communities and underserved areas, who often experience limited access to major cultural opportunities.
The District Festivals should not only benefit practitioners who regularly participate in departmental programmes. They should also provide opportunities for new, emerging and previously excluded artists to showcase their talents and contribute to the province's cultural landscape.
EVERY LOCAL MUNICIPALITY SHOULD HAVE A VOICE
We further call for the District Festival programmes to strive for broad representation of all Local Municipalities within each respective District Municipality.
The Free State is rich in artistic and cultural talent, and meaningful district-level programming should reflect that diversity.
Artists from different municipalities, disciplines, communities and backgrounds should have a fair opportunity to participate, subject to the applicable programme requirements and available resources.
TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION
We encourage the Department and District Centre Managers to communicate clearly with applicants regarding:
-Selection criteria and processes;
-Confirmation of successful applicants;
-Programme schedules and venues;
-Opportunities available to different artistic disciplines;
-Representation across Local Municipalities; and
-Any changes affecting participating practitioners.
A transparent process will strengthen confidence among the province's creative and cultural practitioners and contribute to a more inclusive District Festival programme.
SAACYF Free State remains committed to working constructively with the Department, District Centre Managers, municipalities, artists, cultural organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the District Festivals become platforms that recognise, develop and showcase the diverse creative talent of the Free State.
FREE STATE CREATES, SOUTH AFRICA CELEBRATES!
Issued by:
South African Arts & Culture Youth Forum (SAACYF) โ Free State
Linda Ngqotwane
Provincial Secretary
๐ 0674759402
Facebook: FS Saacyf
For media inquiries, contact: SAACYF Free State Office 0817509746
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ 0817509746 or SAACYF Free State Hotline +27645446779
