Absa boosts KKNK and broader community with multimillion Rand sponsorship

The South African arts industry received an unequivocal vote of confidence from Absa, with the announcement one of the biggest sponsorships ever in the history of the industry.

Following five successful years as naming rights sponsor of the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK), Absa today announced a contract extension for another five-year investment.

With this development, Absa and KKNK re-cemented their relationship up to the year 2015. The parties stated a joint commitment to encourage the affirmation and celebration of a unique, developing South African culture that reflects the identity of a growing nation.

Louis von Zeuner, Absa Deputy Chief Executive says: "We are delighted to make this announcement regarding the renewed sponsorship of the Absa KKNK, South Africa's largest arts festival. As bankers we're always on the lookout for investments that yield long-term sustainable results.

"The Absa KKNK is such an example. This Festival will continue to spearhead the crucial role of the arts industry in the celebration and appreciation of a developing South African culture.

"Our long-term commitment to the KKNK not only confirms our investment in the growth of arts and culture, but also demonstrates our support, as a responsible corporate citizen, to the economic growth of the broader community and the region," said Von Zeuner

Recent research indicates that, for the year 2009, the total economic impact of Absa KKNK is estimated at R112 million. "Our overall investment in the arts makes a remarkable difference in the lives of South Africans. "The renewed level of partnership allows Absa the continuation of the naming rights to the festival. This iconic South African arts festival will, once again, continue, for the duration of the contract, to be known as the Absa KKNK," he said.
Brett Pyper, CEO of the KKNK, said: "In a year that has brought its share of challenges to those who work to keep our arts and culture sector well resourced, this is tremendously good news, not only for the Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, but for the arts in our country as a whole.

"This significant vote of confidence places us in a very favourable position to reach new heights not only in our annual festival programme, but also in the work we do in our neighbouring communities in the Klein Karoo.

"Our goal is to make our national mandate to promote excellence in the South African arts tangible and accessible even to those who live in rural communities, far from urban cultural facilities," he said

Pyper added that, to be able to plan years in advance is essential if we are truly to push the envelope on both quality and accessibility in the arts, and long-term support of the kind that Absa has given us is precious and rare in our country.

"It will continue to enable us to serve the artists and communities who inspire us with the distinction they deserve," he said.

According to professor Russel Botman, Chairperson of the Absa KKNK, the organisation's vision is to develop the Afrikaans arts industry in a way that recognises the identity of its core audience while reaching out to a wider South African community.

Absa KKNK is committed to support arts that appreciate, encourage and showcase the unity in the diversity of the people of this beautiful country, and specifically our host province, the Western Cape, and of course the beautiful Klein Karoo.

As the naming rights sponsor with umbrella marketing rights on the festival grounds, Absa gains the marketing rights of performance venues at the Civic Centre, Banquet Hall and Bongolethu Nevada Hall, as well as the Arts and Craft Market.

Absa will continue to include a corporate arts exhibition in its sponsorship leverage activities. Absa has the largest corporate art collection in the country, containing 20 000 pieces of local works. The extended partnership will also see Absa sponsor numerous categories of the Kane Awards, which recognise excellence at the KKNK.

The 2010 Absa KKNK takes place in Oudtshoorn from 1 – 8 April, during the school holidays, and showcases 35 début theatre productions, a full spectrum of music in a new festival district, visual arts, dance, a festival parade and much more. For the full programme, visit www.absakknk.co.za.

Absa gee KKNK en die breër gemeenskap 'n hupstoot met 'n multimiljoenrand-borgskap

Die Suid-Afrikaanse kunstebedryf het 'n ondubbelsinnige mosie van vertroue van Absa gekry met die aankondiging van een van die grootste borgskappe in die geskiedenis van die bedryf.

Absa het aangekondig dat hy sy kontrak vir 'n verdere vyf jaar gaan verleng na vyf suksesvolle jare as naamregteborg van die Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK). Met hierdie ontwikkeling herbevestig Absa en die KKNK hulle verhouding tot die jaar 2015. Die partye het 'n gesamentlike verbintenis verklaar om die bevestiging en viering van 'n unieke, ontluikende Suid-Afrikaanse kultuur aan te moedig wat die identiteit van 'n groeiende nasie weerspieël.

Louis von Zeuner, Absa Groep Adjunk Uitvoerende Hoof, sê: "Ons is verheug om hierdie aankondiging te kan doen oor die hernude borgskap van die Absa KKNK – Suid-Afrika se grootste kunstefees. As bankiers is ons deurlopend op die uitkyk vir beleggings wat langtermyn volhoubare resultate lewer. Die Absa KKNK is so 'n voorbeeld. Dié Fees sal steeds aan die voorpunt wees van die kritieke rol van die kunstebedryf in die viering en waardering van 'n ontwikkelende Suid-Afrikaanse kultuur.

Ons langtermynverbintenis tot die KKNK bevestig nie net ons belegging in die groei van kuns en kultuur nie, maar toon ons ondersteuning as 'n verantwoordelike korporatiewe burger tot die ekonomiese groei van die breër gemeenskap en die streek, met 'n totale ekonomiese impak van meer as R112 miljoen – slegs gedurende 2009. Ons algehele belegging in die kunste maak 'n merkwaardige verskil in die lewens van Suid-Afrikaners."

Die hernude vlak van vennootskap beteken dat Absa sy naamregte ten opsigte van die Fees voortsit. Hierdie ikoniese Suid-Afrikaanse kunstefees sal vir die duur van die kontrak steeds bekend staan as die Absa KKNK.

Brett Pyper, HUB van die KKNK sê: "In 'n jaar wat sy deel aan uitdagings gebring het aan diegene wat werk om ons kuns- en kultuursektor goed befonds te hou, is dit geweldige goeie nuus, nie net vir die Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees nie, maar ook vir die kunste in ons land as geheel. Hierdie aansienlike mosie van vertroue plaas ons in 'n baie gunstige posisie om nuwe hoogtes te behaal nie net in ons jaarlikse feesprogram nie, maar ook in die werk wat ons in ons aangrensende gemeenskappe in die Klein Karoo doen. Ons doel is om ons nasionale mandaat om uitmuntendheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse kunste tasbaar en toeganklik te maak selfs vir diegene wat in landelike gemeenskappe ver van voorstedelike kulturele fasiliteite woon. Om jare vooruit te beplan, is noodsaaklik as ons regtig vooruit wil beur beide sover dit kwaliteit en toeganklikheid betref, en langtermynondersteuning van die soort wat Absa ons gegee het, is skaars in ons land. Ons sal daarmee steeds die kunstenaars en gemeenskappe kan dien wat ons inspireer met die onderskeiding wat hulle verdien."

Volgens professor Russel Botman, Voorsitter van die Absa KKNK, is dit die organisasie se visie om die Afrikaanse kunstebedryf te ontwikkel op 'n manier wat die identiteit van sy kerngehoor erken terwyl dit uitreik na 'n breër Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap. Die Absa KKNK is daartoe verbind om die kunste te ondersteun wat die eenheid in diversiteit van die mense van hierdie pragtige land waardeer, aanmoedig en vertoon, en veral ons gasheerprovinsie – die Wes-Kaap, en natuurlik die pragtige Klein Karoo.

Absa as die naamregteborg met sambreelbemarkingsregte op die feesterrein kry die bemarkingsregte by lokale waar optredes gehou word by die Burgersentrum, Banketsaal en Bongolethu Nevada Saal asook by die Kuns- en Handwerkmark.

Absa sal voortgaan met sy uitstalling van korporatiewe kuns om sy borgskapktiwiteite uit te bou. Absa het die grootste korporatiewe kunsversameling in die land met ongeveer 20 000 plaaslike kunswerke. Die verlengde vennootskap sluit ook in dat Absa verskeie kategorieë van die Kane Toekennings borg, wat erkenning gee vir uitmuntendheid by die KKNK.

Die 2010 Absa KKNK vind van 1-8 April 2010 gedurende die skoolvakansie in Oudtshoorn plaas. Daar word 35 debuutteaterproduksies, 'n volle spektrum van musiek in 'n nuwe feesdistrik, visuele kunste, dans, 'n feesparade en baie meer aangebied. Vir die volledige program, besoek www.absakknk.co.za.

Source: KKNK Media Relations/KKNK Mediaverhoudinge

  Article Date: 19 March 2010