Punted as a means to revitalise the National Arts Festival’s longstanding arts and craft market, the Village Green has moved – eliciting mixed reactions from festivalgoers and stallholders.
The decades-long festival feature has found itself travelling over the years from Fiddler’s Green to Rhodes University sports fields, and has now found its new home at the Victoria Girls’ High School sports grounds.
Festival CEO Tony Lankester said the move was an opportunity to relook at what the Village Green offered.
“[The move] is giving us the opportunity to revitalise the space and do some new things,” Lankester said.
Unlike last year, the Village Green once again features a much-missed beer tent and plenty of performance stages featuring local and international buskers, with a strong focus on family and children’s entertainment.
Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) resident Jonathan Pryor, 55, who has visited the village for the past 20 years, welcomed the move.
“It is much better here, more in the city than at Rhodes. It is nice to have it back in the city,” he said.
Festivalgoer Pauline Cronje, from KwaZulu-Natal, said she did not see why the move would not work.
“I loved it at the other spaces as well – I just love the Village Green.
“When we come to the festival I cannot wait to get to the village,” Cronje, who has been to the festival more than 20 times, said.
Fellow KwaZulu-Natal resident Janet Taylor said she preferred the previous venue because it was more open and accessible.
East London resident Luthando Masiza, 38, said although he did not understand why the village was moved, he still found the new venue wonderful.
“It is good – I like the idea of the food court.”
Daneal Hibbers, 53, also from East London, said she was impressed with the move.
“It is fine with me as long as I have access to what I want.”
Makhanda pupil Sonqoba Matalima, 16, said he found the new venue more accessible for all. “I think it opens it up to more people.
“The Rhodes venue was too far but this one is easier to access and not so isolated.
“It is definitely nicer here, there’s more mingling going on as well,” Sonqoba said.
First-time stallholder Grant Foong, of Foong’s restaurant in Port Elizabeth, said he found the set-up positive.
“It is great to engage with people and to test out to see if the product fits in.”
Matthew Lister, of the Monkey’s Raindance stall, which has been at the village for more than a decade, said he liked the new vibe but highlighted concerns that the food and other specific types of stalls were split up.
“Our initial reaction was what would happen if the stalls were split up, [but] sales have been pretty good. The village needed a refresh.”
Isabella Smook, who runs the Pranayum vegetarian food stall and has been at the village for seven years, said the move was fantastic for business.
“People don’t like change but this venue is fantastic. The vibe and atmosphere are phenomenal,” she said.
“We will definitely be coming back next year.”
Second-time village stallholder Gisele Ngele-Amba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who sells clothing and material, said the new venue was the right spot for her.
“I am very happy here – there have been more people and sales are better.”
Selling out all his stock daily since the start of the festival, Deon van Deventer, of Hein’s foodstall, said this year was the best he has had in the past nine years.
“There is a better atmosphere here. You can feel the vibe and the set-up is perfect.”
Kelebohile Kolobe, of Joe Gqabi craftware, said sales were down this year, with less foot traffic past her stall.
“It seems the other side [of the Village Green] is doing much better.”