JANUARY 2010
DATE	EVENT	VENUE
TBC	The Cape Town Jazzathon	V&A Waterfront,    Cape Town

The Cape Town Jazzathon has had to be postponed to a date (soon To be confirmed) in early 2010. The Producers of the festival would like to inform festival fans that the postponement is unavoidable and is due to many unforeseen challenges – most of them seem to be related to the build up to the 2010 soccer festivities.

The 14 year old Festival relies completely on government and corporate, financial support.

The Cape Town Jazzathon, the largest free-to-public festival in South Africa , was originally scheduled for 7 th -10 th of January 2010 but has had to postpone due to a shortage of funding. Even though requests were sent in January of 2009, there had been no response from either the national Department of Arts and Culture and The Provincial Government of the Western Cape . Up until today there has been no correspondence from these departments confirming or denying their support.

The only funding received thus far was from the City of Cape Town who has constantly supported and sponsored the Cape Town Jazzathon in the past.

It must be stated that JCQ Productions, the Producers of the Cape Town Jazzathon, along with The City of Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront remain committed to the Production of the popular event that has been in existence since 1997.

The delay in responses to sponsorship requests comes as a huge shock to the Producers of the CT Jazzathon especially in the light of Jazzathon recently being selected to receive a Ministerial Award for Outstanding Achievements and Contribution to music, from the Department of Cultural affairs and Sport.

JCQ Productions comments - “This is why we find it rather strange that an event like the Cape Town Jazzathon with all its positive attributes to South African Culture can be so ignored by corporate and governmental investors”

Fondly known as the “Peoples festival”, Jazzathon has a dedicated fan base of music lovers from all over the world and has broken numerous attendance records over its 13 year existence making it the biggest free music festival in South Africa . The Cape Town Jazzathon is a platform for local musicians to showcase their talents. Many musicians who have cut their teeth at Jazzathon have made it to the international music arena – Musicians who have become household names since performing at the festival include Jimmy Dludlu, Judith Sephuma, Selaelo Selota, Tutu Pouane, Freshlyground, Nash Reed, Ernie Smith, Allou April and many more.

Current Challenges that face the Cape Town Jazzathon
•  Sponsorship and funding is a major challenge
•  Jazzathon has applied for funding from the DAC and PGWC since January 2009 and has never received a reply or response from that office even though numerous letters of request had been sent over the last 12 months
•  Numerous previous and potential sponsors have cited the Soccer World Cup as their preferred agenda for 2010

Upcoming ….JAZZATHON 2010
“However, exciting news is that this home-grown, proudly Cape Town initiative will happen even if we have to take drastic steps,” say the producers. “We know the people of Cape Town regard this as the most important event on their musical calendars. This is where history is made and heroes are discovered!”

JCQ Productions, who have directed the festival since conception hereby, ask the musicians, communities, friends and fans of Jazzathon “to please be bear with us while the process of admin and funding takes its course”

Current Status of the Cape Town Jazzathon
•  The festival will take on a slightly new format
•  Will be hosted at a new venue at the V&A Waterfront
•  Is co-Sponsored by the City of Cape Town
•  Includes some of the hottest new and emerging artists and projects from all over SA

More information and updates will be posted on
www.jazzathon.co.za in the first week of January 2010.
Furthermore, regular media releases will keep the public informed.

All general public queries can be directed to contact details, below