Omaruru Arts and Cultural Festival postponed

OMARURU’S annual arts and cultural festival, which was supposed to run from September 3 to 5, has been postponed to the beginning of October.

Omaruru CEO, Werner Iita, told The Namibian the reason for the postponement was because many dignitaries invited to the official opening were unable to make it ‘due to duties elsewhere’.The new festival dates are October 1 to 4.’Omaruru has become the centre of arts and culture in Namibia, and we want to exhibit this and give Namibian artists the opportunity to show-case their works,’ Iita said.The town also has an ‘artists trail’ every year, and according to Iita there are plans to eventually incorporate the two events into one major annual event ‘that no one will miss, and attract thousands to Omaruru’.Several artists, as well as Iita, have expressed disappointment that the event had to be postponed at short notice since preparations and bookings were already at an advanced stage.’We apologise for the inconvenience, but it would only be right to have the right people here to officially start it,’ Iita said. ‘Anyway, the new date will also allow schoolchildren, who are on holiday now, to participate on the new dates. Many of them are on holiday elsewhere now.’He said the event will start off with a procession through the town, while the main activities will take place at the Reiterverein Omaruru.Fine arts, crafts, art training, drama, poetry, cultural exhibits and sculpture will be some of the featured exhibitions at the festival. A potjiekos and braai competition is also planned.Iita said notices have been sent to participants informing them of the postponement.’The Omaruru Municipality however wants to thank everyone for their enthusiasm in making this a success; and a success it will be, and we invite all of Namibia to come and share in the festivities,’ Iita said.