In 1991, February was declared National Arts Month with the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683. Nearly 30 years later February still comes alive with activities and events around the arts, creativity and self-expression. We see the amalgamation of so many groups, agencies and individual artists and art lovers coming together to celebrate the beautiful yet complex world of art.
Keen to see what this February has in store? Check out where to catch the buzz.
Juma Art Tours
2 Ravenscraig Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town
Juma Mkwela – born in Malawi and raised in Zimbabwe – is an artist who combined his love for art and craft, along with his desire to educate, and set out to share his own interests by teaching the community through art leadership and development programmes. In 2009, upon meeting the famous South African street artist Freddy Sam (Ricky Lee Gordon), who exposed him to the beautiful and powerful impact of murals, Juma Art Tours was born. The inspiration that stemmed from meeting Freddy, as well as the growth in public interest for street art, saw a new window of opportunity open for Juma.
Juma offers a tour that shows over 40 impressive works by artists such as Faith47, Jack Fox (Faith’s son), Freddy Sam, Nard-Star, Masai Lou, Spazio, Giya, Dodie Boy and Daleast (Faith’s Chinese husband) to name a few. It’s a great way to spend a fascinating two hours while taking in the neighbourhood from street level.
Guests can choose to get involved in tours that allow them to get their hands dirty – whether it be through painting or gardening – and feel accomplished after their tour knowing they left a permanent mark on the culture they engaged in.
Today, Juma also works in Khayelitsha with a small team of six that promote the township’s art scene even further and tries to create awareness and development opportunities for local artists. Overall, Juma connects the wealth of local artists who are eager to get their voices heard to the public, and brings the tourists from all over to listen to their stories being told.
Book a Woodstock Street Art Tour or a Woodstock Cooking, Art & Culture Tour and more via the website on jumaarttours.co.za/tours
IPAF (International Public Art Festival) 2020
374 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town
12-16 February 2020
The International Public Art Festival is organised by Baz-Art – an organisation in Woodstock that transforms spaces through commissioned urban art – where 25 local and international artists will be painting large murals on Woodstock’s doorstep in Salt River, Cape Town. This 4th edition will bring the number of murals well above 100.
The festival’s aim is to showcase local and international talent and take art out of the usual galleries, right to the streets of Cape Town. With artists by the likes of Bash (SA), BlackRose (SA), Flavio Favelli (Italy), Gilles Dusabe (Switzerland), Inti (Chile), Kilmany-Jo Liversage (SA) and many more – you definitely do NOT want to miss out.
What’s more, you can book a 2-hour art tour at R650 per person and be taken on a magical journey admiring 100 painted murals as well as experiencing the unique cultural history of the Salt River, Woodstock and Cape Malay community.
For bookings and more information visit the website at ipafest.co.za
Investec Cape Town Art Fair
14-16 February 2020
Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
The 8th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair (ICTAF) is the highlight of Cape Town Art Month. Positioned as the leading art fair in Africa, ICTAF 2020 will include the foremost galleries from South Africa, the African continent, and abroad.
This is the largest art fair on the African continent, showing cutting edge contemporary art. The Fair provides a platform for galleries, collectors, curators and artists from around the globe to engage in cultural and economic exchange and where the fast-growing African art market and the international art world meet.
The allure of Investec Cape Town Art Fair is its content and its placement on the African continent. With the advent of its 8th edition, the market has proven that art fairs are a sustainable economic model for trade in contemporary art.
Visit the website at investeccapetownartfair.co.za or purchase tickets via WebTickets.
Design Indaba – A Festival of creativity
26-28 February 2020
The Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Cape Town’s Design Indaba has seen over 600 illustrious speakers from the varying fields of design take to the stage to deliver soul-stirring and mind-awakening talks, earning the acclaim as the best conference in the world. At the same time, the organisation also actively pursues change and action – seeding over 200 impact-driven projects into the public sphere.
Design Indaba 2020 will be a 3-day multi-sensory, thought-provoking and mind-expansive experience that includes a series of captivating talks by day and festival by night, featuring live music, theatre, exhibitions and masterclasses.
Visit the website for more information at conference.designindaba.com or purchase tickets from WebTickets.
