Joburg is Open for 15+ days of art, culture, entertainment, food and all the halabaloo in the City

The highlights of the Open City programme will include:

To Recall the Past and the Present
August 25 to September 9
To Recall the Past and the Present is a solo exhibition by Free State-born Jabulani Dhlamini with his meditative exhibition that subtly provokes a closer look and recollection of the Sharpeville Massacre, the effects of land dispossession and the funeral of anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
17:00
Play Braamfontein, 73 Juta Street
Admission: Free

Afropolis

August 26 to September 9
This group exhibition will examine the dialogue created between the city and its people; those creating socio-cultural artefacts, those making and eking out a living and those passing through.

17:00
Shop 45 (Opposite Tashas) The Zone @ Rosebank
Admission: Free

Ophelia Does Backstroke
August 25
An exhibition presenting an immersive installation by Natalie Paneng and 10 artworks, Ophelia Does Backstroke brings life to spaces and stories which are said to be lifeless. Natalie Paneng will lead visitors on a walk about on August 27 at 13:00.

17:00
Play Braamfontein, 68 Juta Street

Towards New Frontiers
August 25
Presented by Location Studio Practice, this exhibition takes its point of departure as a call to explore different forms of presentations of expressions. It moves through multiple realms; the self, the public, the absurd, and the uncanny— the plethora of ways artists relate to themselves and their surroundings. Lesole Tautswala will lead visitors on a walkabout on August 27 at 11:00

17:00
Play Braamfontein, 5th Floor, 73 Juta Street

Paint and Sip at The Playground – Open City x Johannesburg In Your Pocket
August 27
Unleash your inner Picasso at The Playground Market’s Paint and Sip class. The painting class starts at 10:30 or at 13:30 and lasts 2.5 hours. The class costs R200 and includes all painting equipment, a complimentary cocktail and free entrance to the market.
10:30 + 13:30
The Playground, Play Braamfontein, 73 Juta Street
Admission: R200
Book your tickets.

Art and High Tea at Rand Club – Open City x In Your Pocket
August 27
The Rand Club is a thriving member’s club downtown – with a history stretching back more than century. The High Tea is accompanied by a tour of the club’s art and special collections by dashing architect and city maven Brian Kent. Start at 10:00 with a guided tour and tea to follow.
10:00 – 13:00
Rand Club, 33 Loveday St, Joburg City Centre
Admission: R350.
Contact events@randclub.co.za for bookings. We advise you to book early, as spaces are limited.

City Skate Tours – walking tour – Open City x In Your Pocket

August 27
City Skate Tours is the brainchild of Joburg-born Ayanda Mnyandu and Daniel Monegi. Join them on a walking tour in Braamfontein focusing on street art, culture, cool hangouts, the history, and the evolution of the city.
11:00–13:30
Admission: R450 per person
Braamfontein Walking TourThe walk focuses on the incredibly rich street art and graffiti in the neighbourhood (highlighting cultural hubs such as Grayscale Store & Gallery, Mangrove’s Gallery Space and The Forge/Commune). It ends with a visit to The Playground market and a chance to see the city from a high point, Thirteen.
Starts at 11:00 and meet at Kalashnikov gallery.

Maboneng Skateboarding Tour

August 27
Backpackers, explore street art and graffiti in Maboneng, Marshalltown and Newtown. Transport will take guests from Newtown to The Playground in Braamfontein for a visit to the market and a chance to see the city from a high point, Thirteen
10:00
Meet at Curio city
Admission: R650 per person
Book via WhatsApp on +27 79 839 8833; cityskatetours@gmail.com

Native Rebels Bike Tour – Open City x In Your Pocket

August 28
Native Rebels is the heart of cool in Jabavu, Soweto. Overlooking Morris Isaacson High School (from where the momentous 1976 Soweto school protests began). As part of FNB Art Joburg’s Art City programme you can explore Soweto with a guided bike tour followed by a delicious lunch at Native Rebels restaurant.
12:00 to 15:00
Native Rebels, 1345 Kadede Street, Jabavu, Soweto
Admission: Tickets R500. Bike rental R200
For bookings: 010 023 6110; https://www.facebook.com/Native-Rebels

Open City Film Programme,

Date TBC
The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in collaboration with FNB Art Joburg and Open City present season 2 of CONSTRUCT. This year the CONSTRUCT film series continues to focus on emerging female artists.
18:00
The Bioscope
44 Stanley Avenue, Milpark
Admission: TBC

InfluenZArt powered by Swiss Arts Council Prohelvetia

September 2
InfluenZArt is a live art and video art platform focussed on staging experimental performance works with local and international artists. InfluenZArt’s first iteration titled What’s The Point? will present a series of short performances, live video projections and sound installations at an iconic Joburg venue in Newtown, Carfax.
19:30
Carfax, 39 Gwigwi Mrwebi St, Newtown
Admission: Pay as you can

Secret Courtyards of Parkwood – Open City x In Your Pocket
The stretch of Jan Smuts Avenue between the corner of Bolton Road and Wells Avenue in Parkwood has long been Joburg’s ‘Art Gallery Row’ and has in recent years become a major dining hotspot too with close to a dozen bars, cafes and restaurants clustered together within this one city block.
Here’s a look at what to look forward to at the Secret Courtyards of Parkwood.
September 3
Start your day at the Toasted courtyard.
08:00 – 18:00
Known for their exceptional toasties, the courtyard is housing COSMOS, a digital exhibition (accessed via QR code) curated by Nisha Merit that invites visitors to dive into a multiverse of outer and inner spaces between stars, pixels and our bodily manifestations on earth.
Art exhibitions at Toasted
From 15:00 to 18:00 catch a special screening in the courtyard of two short films by artists Oscar O’Ryan, Gemma Shepherd & Rochelle Nembhard.
138 Jan Smuts Avenue

Dining and karaoke at Saigon Suzy
September 3
Feast on a delicious Asian sharing menu and then head upstairs for a one-hour karaoke session in your own private karaoke room. The offer is based on a group of five and space is limited.Feast on a delicious Asian sharing menu and then head upstairs for a one-hour karaoke session in your own private karaoke room. The offer is based on a group of five and space is limited.
Parkwood Mansions, 144 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg, 2193
Details: 076 284 9786 to reserve your space.

Cocktails and live music at Sin + Tax
September 3The award-winning cocktail bar Sin + Tax celebrates its new spring cocktail menu in the courtyard with live music and a selection of Asian-inspired small plates. Parking is available at the free car park on the corner of Jan Smuts Ave and Wells Ave, Parkwood and ticketed car park on the corner of Bolton Rd and Newport Rd, Parkwood.
15:00 to 22:00
4 Bolton Road, Parkwood, 2193

Rosebank’s Art Galleries tour with Thabo The Tourist – Open City x In Your Pocket
September 3
Take a guided walking tour with Thabo the Tourist – gallery-hopping across Joburg’s premier art district, Rosebank. Starts at 14:00 and the meeting point is at Keyes Art Mile precinct in Rosebank. The tour ends with a meal at Toasted.
Keyes Art Mile, 19-21 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank
14:00 to 17:00
Admission: R880 per person
Spaces are limited and booking via WhatsApp on 067 992 7247; thabothetourist@gmail.com