Artcha is a South African arts and culture magazine show produced by Engage Entertainment for SABC2 which showcases a variety of all things arts and cultural in South Africa.
The series premiered on SABC2 on Wednesday 2 April 2008, at 20h00. There are 78 half-hour episodes in three seasons to date. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
The first two seasons were hosted by the "Artcha Angels" - Anel Alexander, Masello Motana and Eloise Cupido. As of Season 3 the show is hosted by Mmabatho Montsho.
Season 3 premiered on SABC2 on Wednesday 15 April 2009, at 22h00. The show will move to a new timeslot of Sundays at 12h30 as from 28 June, 2009. There are 26 episodes in the third season.
Season 3 Repeats
Fridays: 12h00
Season 3
Season 3 continues to serve up the very best contemporary art in the land in a format familiar to viewers but with some exciting new changes.
Most noticeably, there's a new anchor host to the show in the form of actress Mmabatho Montsho (Generations, Rhythm City, Jacob's Cross). The show bids farewell to the Artcha Angels, who hosted the first two seasons.
Artcha will continue to attend opening nights of the many plays and musicals in the theatres of South Africa. Mmabatho will be the face of the show in these weekly Red Hot Toppings.
She will meet and interview the myriad of personalities of the contemporary art world in the Main Feature Insert. From actors to dancers, musicians and fine artists, the entire spectrum of the arts will be deconstructed as Mmabatho unpacks and interrogates their stories.
In the Functional Art insert, she will meet the many different types of functional artists that live and work in South Africa. From weavers to potters, jewellery designers, wire artists, interior designers and many more, she will get a chance to witness first hand how the best craft in the country is constructed and produced.
Each episode will also contain a 2nd Feature Insert that will focus on an art discipline different from the Main Feature, thus ensuring a varied and eclectic mix of arts and craft in each episode.
Finally, in a new addition to the show, a Red Hot Chill Bite has been introduced: a weekly book review by Barry Ronge. This will allow the show to profile and feature fine literature, which was lacking in the first two seasons.
Mmabatho will be assisted by the voice of Artcha, Barry Ronge.
Artcha is produced by Antoinette McDonald for Engage Entertainment, with Stephen Lorenzo and Vusi Twala serving as executive producers.
Seasons
(Each season consists of 26 half-hour episodes)
Season 1
Premiere: 2 April 2008 | Finale: 24 September 2008 | Wednesdays, 20h00
Season 2
Premiere: 1 October 2008 | Finale: 8 April 2009 | Wednesdays, 22h00
Season 3
Premiere: 15 April 2009 | Finale: 4 October 2009 | Wednesdays, 22h00/Sundays, 12h30