OFM Artbeat (Kunsteklop)

The National Museum in Bloemfontein is celebrating Youth Month by hosting the Free State Young Artist Competition. This year’s theme is ‘Made with Plastic’. Students and learners are encouraged to participate in the competition and create art inspired by plastic pollution's effects, challenges, and solutions. Carien Van Eck, creative from the National Museum joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat to talk about the entry process and 3 categories. Entries close on the 2nd of Aug.

The NWU Gallery is delighted to announce its relocation within the North-West University Potchefstroom Campus. To celebrate this exciting transition, the gallery proudly presents the grand opening of the "I Hope You Dance" art exhibition, curated from the esteemed North-West University Art Collection. This exhibition will be on view until 5 July 2025. Curator Sheryl Msomi joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat with all the details.

In ‘n wêreld waar mense sukkel om sin te vind uit alles wat met hulle gebeur bly musiek die antwoord op vele vrae. Kunstenaars Jannie Moolman, Petronel Baard en Franco Engelbrecht deel hul eie lewensreise en nooi jou na ‘n vermaaklik, inspirerend en ontspannende vertoning op Fauresmith. Petronel Baard sluit by Yolanda Maartens aan om te vertel oor “Wat die hart van vol is” wat die 21ste Junie by die Karoohuis Teater aangebied word.

In commemoration of Africa Month, the William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG) is pleased to present a special Double Bill shows featuring new works by Usen Obot and Bongi Bengu. The exhibitions, titled Spirits & Souls and My Cup Runneth Over, are curated by WHAG’s Chief Curator Chepape Makgato. The curatorial vision of this year’s double-bill emphasises spiritual depth, cultural memory, and artistic persistence across generations and geographies. Chepape joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM ArtBeat to share his excitement about these two artists and their respective exhibitions which are hosted until the 30th of June 2025.

The Vrystaat Arts Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a program that will captivate audiences with diverse experiences. Festival Director Michael Garbett joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat and highlights that the festival has been providing a platform for diverse voices, genres and cultural expressions for a quarter of a century. Frieda van Niekerk also joins the conversation with some insight in this year’s arts market. The festival is on from 15 - 19 July on the Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State. The program is available here https://vrystaatkunstefees.co.za/events/ and tickets are available from Webtickets.

Vir 23 jaar al kan alle ouderdomme deelneem aan die A-Arts nasionale kunstefees in dans, drama, musiek en sang. In sentraal SA kan finaliste deelneem in Upington, Bloemfontein en Potchefstroom. A-Arts is ‘n motiverende en kompeterende kunstefees wat ‘n hoogtepunt bereik in April 2026 tydens hul ‘Rising to Fame’ finale konsert. Direkteure Wanya Downing en Denise van Dyk sluit by Yolanda Maartens aan in die OFM Kunsteklop om ook te vertel van die pryse wat op die spel is en hoe registrasie werk. Lees meer by a-arts.co.za

Die Inni-Dal-sentrum is gestig om kunsgebaseerde onderrig en leer in Mangaung te verbeter. Hul visie is dat alle kinders en jongmense in die Heidedal- en breër Mangaung-gemeenskappe toegang moet hê tot gehalteprogramme wat kunsgebaseerde metodologie gebruik om maniere te ondersoek om sosiale verhoudings te verstaan deur artistieke, kreatiewe en verkennende ontmoetings. Drama fasiliteerder en stigter van die sentrum, Angelo Mockie, sluit by Yolanda Maartens aan in die OFM Kunsteklop om sy droom vir Inni-Dal te deel en om oor hul kompetisie te gesels.

Entries are now officially open for the 2025 Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition, South Africa’s premier platform for emerging visual artists. Now in its 35th year of Sasol’s sponsorship, Sasol New Signatures remains the most prestigious platform for emerging artists to break into the professional art world. Chairperson of Sasol New Signatures, Pfunzo Sidogi and 2024 winner Miné Kleynhans, joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat with all the details. Entries need to be submitted on 10 and 11 June. Details at sasolsignatures.co.za

The Secret Artists Club invites you to celebrate Mother’s Day in La Belle Époque - the golden era of music and art in Europe. Hosted at St Michael’s Chapel in Bloemfontein on the 11th of May, Diandra Steenekamp joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat with all the details. Tickets are available from Quicket.

The Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO) presents Symphonic Flair on the 24th of May at the Odeion in Bloemfontein. It promises an unforgettable evening of orchestral brilliance. Under the baton of acclaimed conductor Avlana Eisenberg and featuring pianist Ilya Friedberg, this concert promises to stir the soul and spark the imagination. Conductor Avlana Eisenberg joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat to share her excitement in visiting South Africa. Tickets are available from Quicket.