Tuesday Fusion - Karen Meiring Interview www.inspireelsiesradio.co.za WhatsApp:068 102 4094 Facebook: Inspire Elsies Radio TikTok: @inspireelsiesradio1 Download our app on Google Play or the App Store Karen Meiring is a prominent figure in the South African entertainment industry, known for her contributions to television, arts festivals, and music. She was born in Natal and studied at Potchefstroom University, earning an honors degree in Drama. Her career began in 1985 at the Performing Arts Council of the Free State (PACOFS), and she later worked with the Performing Arts Council of Transvaal (PACT). She was also a member of the a capella group Cutt Glas, which gained international recognition with performances in various countries. Meiring played a significant role in the development of the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), a major arts festival in South Africa. She started as a festival organizer in 1994 and served as its CEO from 1999 to 2007. During her tenure, she introduced initiatives like the Kanna Awards and the first Afrikaans musicals. In 2009, she joined M-Net as the head of Afrikaans channels, a position she held until her promotion to director of the Afrikaans channels in 2013. Under her leadership, the kykNET channels experienced significant growth. She is also credited with establishing successful projects like the Fiëstas, Ghoemas, and the Silwerskerm Film Festival to support the Afrikaans film and television industry. She retired from her role as Director of kykNET Channels in 2022 but continues to consult for MultiChoice.