This year marks the 50th anniversary of the earthquake registering 6.3 on the Richter scale that struck the Western Cape. Tulbagh was at the epicenter of this cataclysmic event and took the brunt of the devastation, bringing the local community to its knees both literally and figuratively. In response to their plight, the hearts of the nation reached out to the little Boland town and help from all quarters flooded in to assist in the rebuilding of the town and the precious heritage that had tragically been lost. In a spirit of commemoration the Tulbagh community is again coming together to commemorate the redemptive tale of its regeneration during the intervening half century. The Tulbagh Arts Festival will present literary, musical and visual arts by selected mid career and established South African practitioners including a solo exhibition of paintings entitled verskuif / shift by MJ Lourens opening on 28 September.