<p> GALA DINNER MESSAGE OF SUPPORT NORTHERN ARTS FESTIVAL BY THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR: CLLR NOMHLE VILIKAZI</p><p>20 SEPTEMBER 2012</p><p>Festival Director: Billy Paulson NAF board members NAF sponsors: Official media sponsors: Die Son, Bay FM, Kingfisher FM Sponsors: Coca Cola, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Boomtown strategic brand agency, SABC, Blunden Tours and Cleary Park shopping centre. NAF staff and volunteers NAF stakeholders Community members Guests </p><p>On behalf of the Executive Mayor of the Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Council, thank you for inviting the Municipality to this wonderful gala event. Representing as I do the Council of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, I hereby welcome all the illustrious guests and visitors to Nelson Mandela Bay and the opening of the Northern Areas Arts Festival. </p><p>I see in front of me senior politicians, eminent government leaders, academics, artists, well-known personalities and many illustrious guests who are gracing us with their presence. This testifies to the fact that the Northern Arts Festival has over recent years become a highlight on the cultural calendar of Nelson Mandela Bay. It plays an important role in bringing together and uniting the diverse communities of the Northern Areas. More recently, the Festival has also begun to attract people from other communities. It therefore plays a key role in unifying the Metro and in nation building. The Northern Arts Festival has also become an enabler for job creation, skills development, tourism promotion and economic upliftment. Like the Splash Festival, it is unique to our Metro. </p><p>The Northern Areas are in the heart of Nelson Mandela Bay and has a unique and colourful history – a history that was sadly lost through the years. That neglect is being addressed and redressed by the Festival.</p><p>To the organisers, the patrons, the artists and participants, the media and most of all the ordinary people of the Bay – well done, and thank you for refusing to let a very precious part of the heritage not only of our region, but the Eastern Cape, die. The Northern Arts Festival is much more than simply a community festival: its vibrant and exciting programmes and events, its developmental mandate, and its diversity of features make it something that all residents should own and embrace and be proud of. </p><p>The Northern Arts Festival is deserving of being showcased locally, nationally and even internationally. Its success is clear from the fact that attendance has grown from 5 000 in the first year to 80 000. Figures should further escalate, as this year’s Festival will be something special.</p><p>As a perfect platform for Nelson Mandela Bay to become a leader in arts development, the Northern Arts Festival carries the wholehearted support and endorsement of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.</p><p>Thank you </p>