A compilation CD of some of Cape Town’s most talented artists was launched today at the Cape Town Partnership’s AGM.
The CD is the culmination of the acclaimed Goemarati concert series which took place at venues across Cape Town in 2007. Funded by the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Goemarati is part of the Cape Town Partnership’s Creative Cape Town strategy which creates opportunities for the promotion of local content and develops marketing and sales opportunities for local creative industries.
Says Andrew Borraine, Cape Town Partnership chief executive: “Creative Cape Town is a social, economic and spatial strategy of the Cape Town Partnership to promote an active, vibrant and diverse central city by using culture to accelerate urban regeneration. Goemarati is one of the strategies through which we achieve this by hosting events that attract people from diverse backgrounds into the city. Goemarati is our hip “made in Cape Town” brand and the newly launched website www.goemarati.co.za promotes and sells local music.
The CD features thirteen artists, from music legends to previously unreleased artists and includes awe-inspiring tracks, from a Khoisan Symphony and a reggae hit, to a Xhosa poem and an Afrikaans anthem.
Iain Harris, managing director of Coffeebeans Routes the music agency that was commissioned by Cape Town Partnership to develop Goemarati and produce the album explains: “Goemarati brings together the diverse sounds and textures of Cape Town. It is an example of the musical and lyrical talent of Capetonians. It will open up new income generating streams for many artists who are struggling to get their big break as a result of lack of infrastructure and the geographical barriers within the music industry.
“Cape Town has a rich variety of genres and artists. Creative Cape Town, through Goemarati, aims to cultivate this music talent to the level where artists can more easily access national and international stages,” says Harris.
The Western Cape Provincial Government has come to see the creative talent of its people as an income generating alternative and is facilitating the growth and development of creative industries.
The Goemarati-CD is available at select music stores and online at www.goemarati.co.za or www.coffeebeansroutes.com.
Issued on behalf the Cape Town Partnership and Coffeebeans Routes by Afro Optimist
Contact:
Zayd Minty, Creative Cape Town co-ordinator: Cape Town Partnership
Tel. 021 419 1881 and 083 530 1912
www.creativecapetown.net
Iain Harris, managing director: Coffeebeans Routes
Tel. 021 424 3572 and 084 762 4944
www.coffeebeansroutes.com
Lindiwe Mavuso or Christine Skinner: Afro Optimist
083 388 9873 or 082 855 7277
