Thank You 2017

The 5th Hermanus FynArts was celebrated with a full programme of events attended by a record number of festival goers. This was only possible due to support from our sponsors, committees, staff and the dedicated team of volunteers.

Once again the Advisory Board, MANCO, Media team and Administrative Coordinator, Chantel Louskitt, worked hard over the past year to ensure that the festival continues to grow and develop into a major event on the South African arts calendar.

We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our signature sponsors: Tollman Bouchard Finlayson for the Art Award and exhibition and for this year sponsoring the pre-launch of the festival; Strauss & Co for the Stefan Welz Series of Talks and Presentations and for the first time his year, Pam Golding for the series of house concerts.

Without sponsored accommodation for artists, musicians and presenters a festival such as this would not be possible and our deep gratitude to:

The Windsor Hotel for hosting the ceramic exhibition and sponsoring its opening, as well as conference facilities, teas and coffees for daily workshops and other events, but also for their generosity as the major accommodation provider of 44 room nights – for a great many participants. In addition, this year, a sincere word of thanks for coming to the rescue and sponsoring the accommodation at the Esplanade for 13 student interns for twelve days. It is difficult to imagine FynArts as a viable festival without this support.

We would also like to thank the Marine Hotel for once again offering accommodation, as well as their public rooms for to host an exhibition and the Wine Plus Series, Mosselberg on Grotto Guest House for this year offering accommodation as well as a venue for workshops and a poetry reading, the Art Shop for hosting 2 workshops and sponsoring the sleeves for the Tondo competition, Birkenhead House in Voelklip for hosting an exhibition of sculpture by Dylan Lewis and Dunye cakes for hosting the origami workshop.

We are also grateful to the following guesthouses for also offering sponsored accommodation: Ocean Eleven, Whale Rock Lodge, Fernkloof Lodge, La Fontaine, Hermanus Guest House, Pat’s Place, Harbour Vue, Right Room, FrancolinHof and Mountain View (Sandbaai).

For the full list of 2017 sponsors to whom we are indebted, please click here.

The following individuals have contributed enormously to the success of the festival by voluntarily and freely offering their advice, time and support in the run up to, and during FynArts 2017. A very sincere thank you to:

** curators of large group exhibitions: Debbie Odendaal (art in the auditorium); and Liz Coates (ceramics) and Dal Botha who not only curates the art of thread exhibition but also receives and welcomes all invited speakers at the auditorium

** Jaco Sieberhagen for once again providing technical advice and support for the installation of Sculptures on the Cliffs, a project he managed for its first two years in 2014 and 2015. Without him, there would have been no such project.

** Caroline van Niekerk for her advise on the music programme sheets and for spending many hours editing, educating and ensuring that the concert programmes this year reached a far higher level of accuracy and professionalism

** Christine Henney for taking responsibility for, and coordinating, the series of workshops with the assistance of Pam Herd

** Roz Binge for coming from Johannesburg to help with logistics for the duration of the festival.

** Louna and Pieter Stofberg for once again welcoming festival goers into their home for house concerts, and

** Sue and David Ralph, and Rosa Neser for welcoming festival goers into theirs for the series of cookery demonstrations. And Luke Botha once again assisting at each of these demonstrations. The Ralphs also hosted artists and presenters.

** Chris Barlow Smith for advising and supporting literary events and speakers

** Carol Groenewald and Pat van Schoor and their team of volunteers for each year offering help and support at venues, and manning the FynArts books table.

** Frieda Lloyd, tourism manager of the Cape Whale Coast for supporting and assisting at the Wine Plus Series of tutored tastings

** The Anglican Church, United Church, and the Dutch Reformed Churches in both Hermanus and Onrus for allowing concerts, workshops and talks to be held in their churches and halls

** Heartbeat Cafe, Onrus (biscuits for the auditorium), Cand’s Kitchen (variety of functions and meals for musicians, workshops, and student meals), Tullishe (opening snacks and the breakfast session), and Oskars (meals for musicians) for your deliveries and very reduced rates

** Village News, Hermanus Times, Splash, Whale Talk and Whalecoast fm for once again spreading the word about FynArts.

Many thanks also to the Tourism Office staff of Gardean Lucas, Erica Johannes, Anneline Duminy and Sinazo Siwatu for their support in selling tickets in the run up to, and during the festival. Thank you too, to Julie McGrath for the long hours of book keeping that a festival of this nature entails.

Auditorium staff, Geraldine Erasmus and Dane Lang once again ensured that the teas, coffees, and technology were timeously set up and ran smoothly, and to Hermanuspietersfontein for sponsoring the wines at the evening concerts and openings.

And Don Kearney for his ongoing support and advice in a number of ways including the installation of Sculptures on the Cliffs and preparation for the popular Rieldans performances.