Man-who-was almost Makana mayor, city councillor Prof Mike Whisson, at the new Village Green at Rhodes

It will not cost a penny to enter the famous Village Green craft market at the National Arts Festival.
The National Arts Festival has acted quickly to quell the rumour.
A 320-vehicle caravan is on the road today. Crafters are travelling to Grahamstown from all corners of Southern Africa, says fair director Selina White.
As Grahamstown gets ready for the massive influx of artists and festinos on Thursday, the local grapevine was abuzz today with the “entrance fee” gossip.
Festival CE Tony Lankester quipped: “It (Village Green) will be so good that it ought to have a fee at the gate!”
White can’t understand where the rumour came from: 220 out of 222 stall holders surveyed expressed excitement about the move to Rhodes University’s Great Field.
She says the beer tent has been upgraded with lekka brollies and four TV screens for Saturday’s final Test against the B&I Lions. This year a whole area in the Green is dedicated to children, who can enjoy shows and a playground.
This is part of Lankester’s desire to make the new venue child- and family-friendly.
Parking will be at the adjacent Barratt Lecture Theatre complex, along the university’s Prince Alfred Street (Rhodes is on holiday) and in the suburbs towards DSG. African Street will be a one way (that’s coming up behind Rhodes with DSG on the right).
One hundred and twenty tons of wood chips now cover the fields in front of the Steve Biko (“Kaif”) Student Union building. The chips were donated by a George saw mill.
But the main rugby field will not be used. Was this in fear of rugby players getting splinters?
Even without use of this field, White says the market will be roomier.
DSG will be opening up their hockey fields for parking for stall holders and possibly others. That will carry a fee.
There will be a total of 247 stalls at Village Green, all checked for quality by White.
Down at old Fiddler’s Green – the Container Craft Village has arisen. It will offer 100 stalls, 30 more than last year, thanks to sponsorship from Transnet and the provincial government.
Transnet, the East Cape Tourism Board and East Cape Development Corporation have sponsored and supported 25 crafters taking part in the three-year Transnet Craft Access Programme.
The first year is all expenses paid, second year sees the crafters paying for their own transport and accommodation, and by the third year they only get a rent-free stall. “The rest is up to them.”
White says these 130 crafters were chosen from 800 traders who in the past crowded the city’s historic Church Square. Trading will not be allowed in the square this year.
“We have used the same criteria (as the Village Green Fair) for selection, and have taken best of the craft on the street and provided these crafters with development stalls.”
She says this is the 21st year of the craft fairs, which started out as a tiny market. Crafting has grown to become one of the bigger acts at fest.
She and her committee worked hard to cut out the junk.
The main selection criteria are “if they are handmade local or in South Africa”.
Following repeated criticism and a feature in The Star last year, no toy (or real) weapons will be sold at the Festival fairs. This includes daggers and other dangerous items.
Only one trader has been allowed to sell his crafted hunting knives, and they will be displayed in boxes.
“Each trader will sign a letter to this effect when they arrive.” If they contravene the rule they will be evicted.
White says all stallholders were screened: they had to send her samples or colour photies of their wares.
But festival directors also travel the country – to each others’ fairs – and recruit crafters.
Selina attended the KKK and invited some standout craft artists to Grahamstown.
Grahamstown is filling up with artists and the Festival office says ticket sales are going well.
Actually, very well, but they won’t admit it.

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