Grahamstown Foundation

The Grahamstown Foundation is a non-profit South African company that has initiated, and annually implements, a wide variety of arts, education, science and tourism projects, including: the National Arts Festival Grahamstown and Village Green Fair; Scifest Africa, South Africa’s National Science Festival; the South African Schools Festivals’ including the grade 12 National Schools’ Festival, and eight grade 11 regional schools’ festivals; the National English Olympiad; the Eastern Cape Eisteddfod; the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa; the Amaphiko Township Dance Project; and, the award of several Scholarship and Bursary funds for tertiary study at university.

Arts, education, science, tourism and commemoration are the purpose of the 1820 Settlers’ National Monument which serves as a living monument, and is both a national heritage institution, and a conference and functions venue administered by the Grahamstown Foundation.

The imaginative concept behind the Monument was the desire to be mindful about the past, while working actively in the present to shape a democratic future. Amid reminders of the past, and through its projects, the Foundation encourages the principles and ideals of the South African constitution.

The 1820 Settlers’ National Monument was designed by the architect Jock Sturrock with a magnificent 940-seat theatre, and multiple lecture venues, breakaway meeting rooms, and a memorial foyer. It was completed in 1974 and stands proudly on a hill overlooking the Festival City of Grahamstown. The Monument is an active participant in our developing nation, and commemorates the contribution of the 1820 settlers, and other English speaking immigrants, to the development of South Africa.