Fest gets folk art and

Aardklop dropped off the map earlier this year. But a group of art lovers decided to get the Afrikaans arts fest up and running. spoke to festival manager, Alexa Strachan

WHEN artist/producer, Alexa Strachan, was asked by a group calling themselves the Aardklop Interested Parties ( belangstellendes) to step in (at short notice) as manager, she knew this would be a huge learning curve, but she was ready for the challenge.

“I know it’s sink or swim,” says the gutsy Strachan because even if it is a start-up of an already established festival which was recently disbanded – yet now revived – doing this in three months’ time is quite fanciful.

Her advantage, she believed, was that Potchefstroom was her home town. She knows the people and the place and is aware that the community has to be part of the festival.

“It’s about the people who live there and those presenting the festival,” she argues and she has worked hard to establish those links and to add the wider community to their agenda, not just the obvious folk.

“It won’t be easy, but we have to try,” she says.

She’s also grateful to the artists who have given her their full support. Putting the kind of programme together that she is proud of in such a short time would not have been possible.

“It’s no secret that we don’t have bags of money,” she says, but they’re hoping to re-establish Aardklop, the festival in Potchefstroom, in a big way.

One of the things she believes will be important for the spirit of the place is to return the market venue (food and other stalls) to what is called Die Bult.

“It felt as if the heartbeat was missing because that’s right in the centre of the festival,”she says. But it’s back where it belongs and she believes this will also underline to Potchefstroom that this is their festival.

Even though she has been picking up skills on the run, she has also known that when in doubt, it will be a matter of common sense and anyone who has survived in the arts as long as she has, knows all about that.

Included as part of her programme to reach far wider is something called Taxi Theatre. People can catch a taxi daily during the festival to either the Promosa or Ikageng townships and two other out-of-the-way spots in Potchefstroom where they will catch local theatre and cuisine. “They can venue hop,” she says, meaning that participants are introduced to a Potchefstroom they might not know.

Singer/songwriter, Riku Latti, has also taken a programme of his further, titled Wasgoedlyn (Washing Line), he sources local artists, workshops them and, at the end of the festival, stages a gala concert with these ALEXA STRACHAN BEURTKRAG performers and some established artists.

“We have already secured a guitar for one of his earlier stars, Brian Cloete, ” says Strachan who believes there should be strong follow-up not just featuring artists on stage for a one-off performance.

There’s also a weekend of movies in the townships where local stall owners who couldn’t afford or find space during the festival can showcase what they have to offer. It’s a bit like taking some of the festival to as many of the people of Potchefstroom as possible.

Aardklop: October 4 to 8, Potchefstroom.