Open Newtown initiative to showcase Jozi’s cultural precinct
NEWTOWN - NEWTOWN'S creative community will join forces to remind the public exactly what Jozi's cultural precinct is all about on 14 and 15 March.
The area is considered home by a significant number of Joburg’s well-known creative personalities, many of whom trained at Newtown institutions that facilitated their entry into the world of professional creativity.
Artist Proof Studio (APS) is one of the oldest training organisations in Newtown, and in 24 years of operation has produced a plethora of South Africa’s leading printmakers and fine artists.
The studio is also the driving force behind the Open Newtown Initiative – a two-day programme of performances, exhibitions and information sharing, supported by the Department of Arts and Cutlure’s Mzanzi Golden Economy.
“Newtown is a very important creative hub. The Open Newtown initiative is a collaborative effort to expose the public to exactly what goes on in Newtown. It’ll be an exciting two days of art and creativity. It will also offer details about the many different training and creative organisations operating here,” said Kim Berman, Artist Proof Studio co-founder and executive director.
The weekend will centre around two main display areas, the famous Bassline music venue and the new Newtown Junction shopping mall.
The initiative will also showcase the activities of long-standing Newtown stakeholders, such as Nikki’s Oasis and Kaldi’s Coffee, who will be running their own programmes.
“The event is perfect for the whole family. Special care has been taken to offer visitors secure parking and comprehensive on-street security,” added Berman.
“There will be something on offer for all tastes, and we’re really looking forward to showcasing and reminding the public of the incredible work our artists and organisations are doing.”
The Bassline will feature a two-day interactive exhibition featuring live music, dance, art, spoken word and much more; while the Newtown Junction shopping centre will provide an information and education hub over the two days, and will offer rich detail as to what goes on in Joburg’s cultural precinct on a daily basis. The Junction will also display the complete programme and map for the Open Newtown weekend.
Organisations operating in the region will present overviews of their programmes and structures, while educational and craft creation workshops will cover areas such as printmaking, textile printing, acting classes and more.
