WITH over 10 000 participants impacted, the European Union (EU) Bushfire Schools Festival stands as a key platform for youth artistic growth.
The festival, known for celebrating diverse forms of artistic expression — including music, dance, poetry and visual arts — brings together more than 600 high school learners and out-of-school youth clubs from all four regions for a full day of performance and creative exchange.
This year’s edition, held under the theme ‘Art in Action’, aims to accommodate 40 schools.
European Union Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, highlighted the milestone, describing the festival as a sustained investment in creativity and skills development among young people.
Since its launch in 2010, the initiative has drawn over 10 000 pupils and 100 teachers, using artistic expression as a pathway to practical skills and confidence building.
“It is phenomenal that we were able to reach such numbers over these years because they speak to the impact of this festival in nurturing new talent,” he said, noting that the platform encourages networking and mentorship among emerging artists across the country.
Mecklenburg explained that the EU continues to work with government and Southern African Development Community (SADC) partners to explore ways of positioning creative products for international markets, stressing that exposure and mentorship remain key components of the programme.
Schools Festival Coordinator, Melanie Dlamini, emphasised the importance of early exposure to the arts, describing young people as flexible and open to growth.
“Young people are still flexible, so this is the right time for them to expose their talent and take it seriously in order to find their place in the market,” she said.
She added that the festival offers educational programmes where emerging artists interact with established professionals, enabling them to seek guidance and refine their craft.
Applications for the 2026 edition remain open until March 9 through the Bushfire online platforms, inviting more young creatives to join a programme that continues to shape the country’s artistic future.
