NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                      8 May 2001

CAPE TOWN COUNCIL WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR SUPPORT OF THE ARTS

The City of Cape Town Council has scooped two major national awards for excellence and innovation in its support for the arts.

Nominated as a finalist in three of ten categories in the Business and Arts SA Awards (BASA) for the year 2000, the Council won the top prizes in the Categories for long-term development and strategic support. Both the awards were for the council’s support for Sithengi, the Southern African Film and Television Market.

The achievement is seen as all the more exceptional because the City of Cape Town Council was the only government or local government body to be nominated as a finalist among a strong line-up of big business entries.

The third category in which the Council was nominated as a finalist was best use of a commission of new art.

Judges on the panel included Hylton Appelbaum, Irene Charnley, Michael Coulson, Thebe Ikalafeng, Ivan May, Welcome Msomi, Peter Ndoro, Fiona Ramsay and Annalie Watt. Award-winning entries received a specially commissioned work of art.

The Council’s winning entry in the categories long-term development and strategic support give recognition at a national level to the innovative marketing of Cape Town as The Cape of Great Events - an initiative aimed at building the global profile of the city as a top events and tourist destination while promoting local development and job creation.

Other events supported by the Council include the successful North Sea Jazz Festival, the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, the Cape Town International Film Festival, the Cape Town International Kite Festival, the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour, the Cape Gourmet Festival and the J&B Met.

Pat Lennox, Head of the Events Office at the City of Cape Town Council, said he was proud and excited at the City of Cape Town winning the Awards and at being nominated in one other category.

“Our team has been working hard to promote Cape Town as an event destination,” he said.

“These awards are a formal recognition of the work that we have been putting into the event industry.”

Mr Lennox said he was especially proud that the City of Cape Town Council was the only local government organisation in South Africa to compete with and beat competitive business nominations.

The role of the Events Office includes financial, logistical and marketing support, advisory services and facilitation of events.

Michael Auret the new Sithengi CEO congratulated the City of Cape Town Council on its awards for their support for the Sithengi Film and Television Market.

“We are very pleased that one of our generous partners has received acknowledgement for the unstinting support they have shown to the film and television market over the last few years,” he said.

As Sithengi is embarking on a new growth phase with a new strategic vision, we look forward to being able to work closely with the City of Cape Town in adding value to our client services and to Cape Town as an international film and television destination.

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