Historical building houses art hub

In the heart of Johannesburg, there’s a building that artists are breathing new life into.

August House, a building on End Street, is fast becoming known as The Artist’s Playground of the City of Gold.

The building stands in Doornfontein, near the fashion district of the city, which is well-known as the best place to find the latest fashion at ridiculously low prices, and a creative hub for retailers, hawkers and artists alike – the perfect spot for this art studio.

The historical structure was built in the late 40s and was used as a light industrial building, according to Art Map South Africa (artmap.co.za). As the 21st century approached, the industrial company housed in the building, moved away from the Johannesburg CBD – as did many other companies at the time. It was at the turn of the century that the idea was conceptualised, and in 2006 the building was converted into a network of live/work artists and production spaces.

The current landlord of August House, David Mayers, explained that it was due to rumours of the building being sold and converted into low-income rental apartments, that there was a mass exodus of the long-standing art residents in 2013.

Now the community is growing once more and houses 16 lively artist studios, a sewing factory and a group of residents who all work in creative industries.

Tenants also have access to the vast rooftop where they are able to watch the indigenous roof garden grow, or enjoy the space for chill sessions, sundowners, parties and the like.

Breathtaking art, talented local artists and grand colourful canvasses line the walls and rooms of this five-story building. August House gives artists a unique creative hub and the freedom to be and, with the option of paying the landlord in artwork, the stress associated with being an artist is basically gone.

Read: Jag, one of the city’s historical art hubs

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