CONTACT US
KKNK

Programme Applications

Click here for the online form
Click here for the budget framework
Click here for the Programme Guideline
Klik hier vir Afrikaans

The 30th KKNK takes place in Oudtshoorn in the heart of the Klein Karoo, from 28 March to 4 April 2026!

All artists, creatives and creative thinkers are invited to submit innovative and creative proposals for consideration.

We also encourage production proposals that can be earmarked for future festivals. This provides an opportunity for longer-term planning. Send these proposals to Hugo Theart at hugo@kunste.org.za. 

THE FESTIVALGOERS OF THE KKNK

are diverse and multilingual • are mostly understand Afrikaans • are from all corners of the country (and other countries) • mostly speak Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa, but they see productions that include any language • include all age groups from toddlers to elderly individuals • enjoy quality theatre • enjoy being challenged • enjoy intimate performances, as well as spectacular concerts • are curious and inquisitive • are people who believe in good and positive citizenship • rise early and go to bed late at night • have a strong opinion and know what they like • attends the festival in a group that includes family and friends

TO SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL

Submit your proposal electronically with this form, before the closing date of 

Monday 14 July 2025 at midnight.

THE PROCESS

All proposals are evaluated by an independent evaluation panel, in collaboration with the Artistic Director, in accordance with the evaluation criteria included here. Preliminary and final selection will be sent out by the KKNK thereafter. 

CRITERIA AND SELECTION GUIDELINES

There are several aspects that influence the curation of the final programme.

Elements in proposals that will receive preference, include:

  • Innovation
  • Debut works
  • Newly written scripts or music
  • Authentic South African stories
  • Multilingual productions
  • Productions in any of South Africa's official languages
  • Non-verbal productions
  • Conceptual work
  • Interesting combinations of artists
  • Marketability

The KKNK receives exceptional proposals each year, but unfortunately, we cannot include all proposals. Practical aspects that play a role are:

  • Suitable venues for proposal (venue capacity and potential ticket sales are considered here).
  • Technical requirements of productions.
  • Scale of productions.
  • The balance of the overall KKNK programme to serve all genres and target markets.
  • Financial implications of the production.
    1.  

Specific criteria that will be used::

  • Artistic value
  • Commercial potential
  • Relevancy
  • Wide social impact
    1.  

AMATEUR PRODUCTIONS

As a national arts festival the KKNK creates professional platforms that present exceptional and professional work by South African artists. Professional artists are individuals that earn their main income from the arts industry. A platform is furthermore created for amateur performances or non-professional artists, to focus the national spotlight on their talents and work. The focus here falls on individuals from Oudtshoorn and surrounds, through creating opportunities for individuals from our region. For this reason, a large-scale community project was launched in 2021, where individuals from Oudtshoorn and surrounds receive the opportunity to participate in various aspects of the programme as part of Karoo Kaarte. These include theatre productions, arts exhibitions and installations, workshops, multidisciplinary presentations, publications, and other creative platforms like an app. Karoo Kaarte enables the KKNK to create a substantial and sustainable platform for amateur performances, during which exposure to established theatre and arts creators is included. As a result, additional amateur productions and/or non-professional presentations are not considered, but proposals that can be presented under the banner of Karoo Kaarte to the benefit of the local arts industry, will be considered.

INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

The KKNK also welcomes international productions if these productions can be presented in a way that funds allocated for South African artists do not have to be used.

The KKNK’s programme is carefully compiled to create a thorough experience for festivalgoers that is diverse, exciting, and innovative. As an arts festival, the KKNK is committed to being a festival that contributes to nation building and good citizenship, and proposals from outside South Africa that support this mission are considered.

TARGET MARKET

The target market of the KKNK is diverse festivalgoers from all over and with the compilation of the programme options for everyone are considered.

CONTRACT TYPES

The KKNK offers three types of contracts, and you must indicate in your proposal which one you prefer:

Box office contract

The KKNK shares in the box office income of the production at the festival, but takes no responsibility for creating the production. Most of the productions are presented on this basis. The KKNK provides the venue, technical setup, front of house - and technical staff, handles the ticket sales with the service provider, launches strong and focused marketing campaigns on various platforms, which will sometimes include the production or the festival that makes an indirect contribution to the marketing of the production. The producer is responsible for all other expenses, which include, but is not limited to, the development costs, repetition fees, travel and accommodation etc.

Fee contract

The KKNK produces several debut productions. In these instances, the KKNK carries all the expenses of the production and accepts responsibility for all runs. In return for its investment, the KKNK expects input in the creative process and works with the producer to investigate runs in future.

Co-production (partnerships)

The KKNK works with partners to develop and present a production. The KKNK welcomes proposals that encourage collaboration between different parties and would like to discuss these possibilities.

ARTFORMS AND PROGRAMME CATEGORIES

It is important for the KKNK to present an opportunity to everyone to submit proposals and therefore the KKNK extends an invitation to all artists, musicians, creatives, and producers. 

All proposals are welcomed, but the KKNK is particularly interested in the following:

Theatre productions

  • Drama and comedy are an integral part of the KKNK’s programme.
  • Relevant South African stories that also address important social and economic issues.
  • A variety of productions are accepted to ensure a healthy balance between niche and popular presentations.
  • Site-specific proposals that incorporate the landscape of the Klein Karoo are strongly considered. 
  • The KKNK is very interested in productions that focus specifically on family -, children’s -, youth entertainment and young adults.
  • Preference is given to newly written South African scripts, but it is also important to the KKNK to present relevant classic works from both here and elsewhere.
  • Literary art, storytelling, poetry, dance – and children’s theatre form part of the theatre programme.
    1.  

Music productions

  • All genres of music are considered.
  • The KKNK wants to invest in innovative and well thought out music productions that incorporate exceptional artists and/or singers. Productions are presented in various venues that range from intimate 100-seaters to open-air venues with a capacity of 6 000 people.
  • The KKNK also wants to invest in musical theatre productions with political and social commentary and is especially interested in satirical works (i.e., cabaret).
    1.  

Street theatre and art

  • An extensive programme is presented in Baron van Reede Street (the centre of the festival) and the festival terrain (an area with stalls, bars and music) annually. The KKNK encourages all artists to submit proposals for street performances (multidisciplinary, extravagant, unique, site-specific, mobile presentations or buskingfor KKNK 2026. The KKNK would also like to encourage visual artists to submit proposals for open-air art installations or programmes.

Blitsteater

  • An opportunity for young and established artists to experiment and bring more conceptual theatre experiences to the festival.
  • How does Blitsteater work?
  • Running time for performances is 20 minutes. Because the performances as part of the project rotates, it is important that the presentation keeps the audiences engaged for the complete duration (or as close to it as possible) and not run longer than the provided timeslot. 
  • It is performed in 6m x 10m tents (or in different small temporary areas).
  • 20 to 30 audience members can be accommodated per area, depending on the production’s layout between the audience and playing area. It is important that the production team makes a conscious decision about how the audience must watch the performance.
  • The production is presented once or twice on every day of the festival, with potential repeats. 
  • The festival supplies minimal technical support. As a result, although multimedia, interactive or other interesting technical elements are encouraged, it is mostly the responsibility of the production to organise and perform these elements. 
  • All genres are welcomed.
  • Family entertainment to more challenging work for adults are considered: family friendly,  with parental guidance and content for no u.18's.
        1.  

Visual arts

  • Visuele kunsvoorleggings word in ’n aparte proses hanteer, onder leiding van die KKNK se visuele kunskurator. Jy is welkom om jou voorstel of navrae te rig aan J.C. Aucamp by jc@kunste.org.za

Open-air music stage in the festival terrain or Baron van Reede Street

  • Popular and contemporary music aimed at families are presented here. If you want to perform on a music stage in the festival terrain or elsewhere, complete the form and submit all the required information. The KKNK prefers that artists do not perform with backtracks.

Klein Karoo Experiences

  • If you have proposals that will add to the experience of festivalgoers, you can also submit it for the KKNK online. Experiences that incorporate the Klein Karoo and Oudtshoorn’s natural beauty, history, and quality products, receive preference. 

Lifestyle Experiences

  • Complementary, moving, enjoyable experiences which include food, wine, tastings, workshops, tours, sports, experiences in nature and fashion are also considered. 

Discussions

  • If you have any interesting suggestions for a discussions series, workshop or interactive programme, send your proposals to J.C. Aucamp at jc@kunste.org.za.  

Does your idea not fit in any of these categories?

If you have an idea that does not fit into one of the above categories, send us your proposal with a good concept presentation. Aspects such as cost-effectiveness, innovation, interactive elements, involvement of the local community, accessibility, training, and sustainability are encouraged here.

TECHNICAL SCOPE OF PRODUCTION

A .pdf with stage layout, lighting, sound, AV or any other specific effects must be uploaded with the application. Although the KKNK attempts to assist with technical requirements and requests of productions as far as possible, but if there are any exceptional requests, or requests that do not fall within the basic technical installation, it must be indicated as such by the production, so that the technical scope is clear and can be discussed, should the production be considered for the KKNK.   

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE(S)

By submitting a programme application for the KKNK, the applicant accepts that no performances are allowed at any venues within a certain radius around Oudtshoorn for a specific timeframe. No exceptions will be granted on this restriction. 

Direct your enquiries to:

If you have any general enquiries, contact J.C. Aucamp:

If you have any specific enquiries about the Programme Guidelines, or specific suggestions or ideas, contact Hugo Theart:

Lizané Basson, General Manager, is on maternity leave until the end of September 2025.