New mag applauds the arts

Bravo! is published by two well-known Afrikaans cultural personalities, Karin Meiring and Carien Loubser. Meiring's tenure as MD of the KKNK festival ended last year, when she became the CEO of the Oude Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch. Also a performing artist, her knowledge and interests in the arts has found a further outlet in Bravo!. Loubser's background includes experience in the media, magazine and television production industry.

Says editor Loubser, "The arts and entertainment industry is a magical world where Shakespeare, rock & roll and movie heroes change peoples lives forever. Bravo! is about these people and events that shape our era. In the fist issue we've included everyone, from Arno Carstens to Mafikizolo and Miriam Makeba, to Gavin Hood and Johannes Kerkorrel."

The quarterly 96-page magazine covers a broad spectrum of South African theatre, music, film, literature and the visual arts. With an initial print run of 15 000 and retailing R29.95, the first issue's cover features two South African art scene legends, Anna-Mart van der Merwe and Nataniël.

Further plans for Bravo! include the development of a website. The next issue will be available in June 2008.