Joburg Theatre in partnership with VGM presents Joburg Youth Arts Festival from September 6 to 18.

The Joburg Youth Arts Festival (JoYA) is a Joburg Theatre initiative showcasing original work from young artists to theatre funding bodies and patrons of the arts. The aim is to cultivate an audience for the arts, while creating networks that promote the creative’s artistic work. The progressing number of performing arts graduates highlights a need for the industry to follow suite. This festival presents a platform where graduates showcase their talent, while acquiring the skills to navigate careers in the arts.

JoYA Festival is initiated as a tool to answer the question “What now? “. It also aims to create an environment where young people can enhance short term and long term business ventures. Ultimately, this creates a platform in which all stakeholders in theatre and music can meet and engage with each other and for the creation of global networks in the relevant field.

In association with the Joburg Theatre Youth Development space, JoYA intends to provide the much deserved platform for these young theatre practitioners to showcase their theatre plays, dance productions, live music, poetry and comedy pieces to a paying audience.

Lastly, the festival also features free workshops, talks and networking sessions for attendees and young festival performers.

JoYA Festival took place from 6 to 18 September, at Space.com.

For more information on the festival, please visit the Joburg Theatre website.