Arts, Culture and Heritage
Overview
From downtown Newtown to the sprawling township of Soweto, from the leafy north to the western outskirts of Roodepoort, Joburg is the province’s cultural hub, with a host of galleries, theatres and museums.
And it is the City’s directorate of arts, culture and heritage that ensures that all the communities of Joburg are provided with creative and cultural outlets.
Township Art Centres
- The City is currently upgrading the Uncle Tom's Community Centre in Orlando, Soweto. A new dance studio has been established and a studio for artists will be added. The entire building is being refurbished at a cost of R3-million from a Gauteng grant.
- Facilities at Oppenheimer Park have also been upgraded, and restoration work is underway at the Credo Mutwa site.
- The Mofolo Art Centre and Bapedi Hall continue to provide space for arts groups. The Mofolo Art Centre includes a working area for ceramic artists.
A small theatre in Alexandra is being upgraded by the Alexandra Renewal Project, and additional dance spaces are planned in future community centres.
Most halls and community centres across Johannesburg are managed by the City’s Sports and Recreation Directorate.
This directorate, along with the Directorate of Arts, Culture and Heritage, forms part of the Department of Community Development.
- Johannesburg hosts a wide range of museums that educate and entertain.
- These include institutions focused on apartheid, the discovery of gold, military and Boer history, transport, money, zoology, culture, medicine, anthropology, beer and more - offering a rich exploration of South African history and culture.
Tourist Attractions
Three municipal-owned theatres
- the Johannesburg Theatre
- the Roodepoort Theatre
- the Soweto Theatre
Art galleries
- the Johannesburg Art Gallery, which has the largest art collection in the country.
- several arts community centres in Soweto and Alexandra
A number of cultural and heritage precincts
- Newtown
- Credo Mutwa Village
- Openheimer Park
Several museums
- Museum Africa
- Hector Pieterson Museum
- Bensusan Museum of Photography
- Geology Museum
- James Hall Transport Museum
In addition, Joburg’s diverse heritage is celebrated through programmes such as the annual City-sponsored Arts Alive festival and Johannesburg Carnival.
Arts Alive sees a host of events ranging from music performances to theatre productions, from poetry and photographic workshops to dance classes. It is a celebration of all that the city has to offer culturally. It is about expanding horizons and improving the quality of life for the residents of Johannesburg.
The annual end of year Joburg Carnival heralds in the New Year with a street parade through the inner city, with community groups building floats and designing and creating costumes. Besides being a way for Joburg residents to celebrate their city and to take ownership of the streets, the carnival also provides training opportunities for related industries in the performance art sector.