About MACUFE
Introduction
MACUFE is the acronym for Mangaung African Cultural Festival
Objectives
- Develop and nurture artists in the Free State
- Create a platform for local artists to showcase their talents
- Position the Free State province as a tourism destination of choice by showcasing the best of South African and international artists across various disciplines.
- Use arts and culture as vehicle towards nation building, social cohesion and promotion of national identity.
- Use arts and culture as vehicle to create job opportunities and stimulate the local economy.
Social-Economic Impact
Benefits derived from visitors per economic sector are as follows:
| Accommodation | 86.7% |
| Restaurants | 81.5% |
| Retail and services | 73.2% |
| Filling Stations | 71.4% |
100% of the accommodation establishment, in the Mangaung township area, indicated that they benefited directly from visitors who attended MACUFE.
A Socia-Economic Impact Study conducted in 2015 by the Centre for Development Support(CDS) from the University of the Free State, indicated that:
- MACUFE generated approximately R 92 million in visitor expenditure in Bloemfontein
- A total of R 150 million was spent by those attending MACUFE (Including expenditure by locals).
- Visitor numbers increased by 15% and spending in Mangaung increased by 30%
History
The first Mangaung Arts and Culture Festival (MACUFE) was held in 1997.
2019 – Marked 22 years of MACUFE as the biggest arts festival in the Free State
