- The 2021 KKNK has been postponed until further notice.
- The postponement is due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
- The 2020 KKNK was cancelled when the pandemic first broke out.
The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival(KKNK), that was due to take place from 31 March to 6 April 2021, has been postponed.
"Although we were eager to celebrate again in early April 2021 the health risks and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic are still a worrying factor," Hugo Theart, Artistic Director of the KKNK, said in a statement to the media on Thursday.
"The high and rising rate of infections across the country made the decision necessary," Theart added.
According to Crispin Sonn, Chairperson for Kunste Onbeperk – the organisation that hosts the KKNK, the decision was not made lightly or in isolation: "After discussions with our partners, sponsors, the Oudtshoorn municipality, and the Western Cape government it was concluded that hosting the festival during the Easter weekend would be too high a risk for everyone involved."
New dates to be considered
Sonn added: "The board, management, and all our partners have constantly been in discussions and have been evaluating the situation closely.
"We simply have to take in consideration the statistics and the worldwide development of the pandemic to make informed decisions. Discussions will continue in January when new dates for the festival will be considered."
The KKNK has been a huge economic boost to the town of Oudsthoorn since its inception in 1995. The festival was also canceled in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic first forced South Africa into lockdown.
Arts24 is part of News24 which is owned by Media24. Media24 is a sponsor of the KKNK.
