General Information

The arts have a vital role to play in nation building and the well-being of our people.

This is echoed in the words of our late national patron Mama Albertina Sisulu when she said: “𝘔𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.”

Union High School subsequently established the annual 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢 𝗘𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗𝗗𝗙𝗢𝗗, which will celebrate its inaugural edition this year, as an arts development platform, offering various opportunities to young performers from age 5 to 18, in all communities for participation, development and showcasing of talents in music, dance, theatre and fine arts.

The closing date for entries is 1 July 2023.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚.

Exposing and giving of themselves, results in a vulnerability that the performer has to overcome and control to establish confidence and belief in themselves.

In the eisteddfod context, it provides participants with affirmation of their value as human being and fulfils the basic need for respect and recognition.

Some people might still argue that sporting events are of equal importance as enabler of human development.

However, it stands to reason, according to the National Eisteddfod of South Africa, that none of the attributes of sport has a stronger impact on the personal growth of individual participants, than those of the arts.

In essence, this is the magic of the arts.

We as the Camdeboo Eisteddfod committee wishes every participant and supporter many magical moments in their involvement in the arts during our 2023 annual Camdeboo Eisteddfod.

Seen here is the committee of the newly established Camdeboo Eisteddfod: (back) Mrs Bronwen Langmead, (middle) Mrs Hanli Rose-Innes, Ms Zelda Oosthuizen, Mrs Sanet Brink and (front) Mr Andrew Gradwell.