Check out more about the MY Citi service. In addition to the convenience of an expanding public transport network, the Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) system is also introducing a network of public art pieces.

In the first phase of the IRT system, the three bus stations each incorporate a work by a local artist which resonates with the history of Cape Town.

ARG architects have been key to the artwork integration into the stations which they designed and project managed into existence. ARG Design is a multi-disciplinary professional practice providing a range of services across the built environment professions. Alistair Rendalls and Gita Goven, two of the directors of City Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Management, are passionate about supporting the arts. As a result they ensured that a budget was made available for public art in each station.

The work of the three artists was chosen through a process of calling for proposals. Educentric cc, a company which manages public art commissions and exhibitions managed the process that resulted in the final works going up. Roger Van Wyk and Lerato Berang of the company will speak at the next Creative Cape Town Clusters (8 July) on the IRT Public Art project
Ceramicist and mosaic artist, Lovell Friedman, working at the IRT station at the Cape Town Stadium in Greenpoint, has developed a series of mosaics based on the history of the area, its inhabitants and the activities they enjoyed there. Lovell has worked for a number of years training artists to do mosaic work and has, as an artist facilitator, contributed to a number of public art projects around the city over the years.

The IRT Station at the Cape Town International Airport is the site of renowned artist Sue Williamson’s work, titled A Random History of Cape Town, 1499-1994. The work, sandblasted on both sides of the glass of the IRT station, includes the peninsula landscape and clouds filled with texts based on quotes taken from the journals of key figures in our history, including Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada.

The Civic Centre IRT station is the site of the largest station piece. Designed by set designer and illustrator Julia Anastasopoulos, the work features cityscapes of Cape Town. The two metre high walls on either side of the station are used as her canvas. Anastasopoulos, who has a background in illustration and set design, has produced detailed cityscapes of Cape Town’s past as well as its future.

These three works are only the beginning for the City of Cape Town, which in spite of tight budgets, has pledged to incorporate art in all its IRT stations; both to create an identity for the stations, and also to enhance the experience for commuters.

Future IRT Stations will feature the work of Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) students as the City and CPUT have partnered to produce works for future stations as they are rolled out.

If you are interested in seeing the art works or checking out the excellent and efficient system, the City has declared the next two Fridays (2, 9 July) as Free Fridays.

Designers Porky Hefer of creative consultants Animal Farm and the Pedersen and Lennard team of Luke and James joined Ziggy Strohbach of the Department of Industrial Design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Bernadette Isaacs of the Western Cape Furniture initiative (WCFI) to meet with Zayd Minty of Creative Cape Town and Lorelle Bell who is heading the city’s 2014 World Design Capital Bid.

Porky’s recent intervention in public art sadly did not make it into the Cape Town landscape. His 2010 “cratefan man” – a 16,5 m lego-like fan-man made of 2500 Coca Cola bottle crates – was installed in Newton, Johannesburg. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, the fan-man reflects the company’s packaging recycling goals. Porky is well known, however, for his quirky ideas and products, including his human sized Weaver Nest. “Made in collaboration with Mariki and Beyers Beyers, who run a job-creation project in Riversonderend, the nest is weaved from Port Jackson, Black Wattle and Poplar alien trees. At a size of 3m x 2.5m, suspended 3m above the ground, it can carry two adults and a small child. A larger version, which can carry four adults, is currently being built.” (Design Indaba). Check out his “Lite” made of plantation wood and his crate chair. See more on Porky.
Pedersen and Lennards’ bucket stools and other products featuring reworked, recognisable consumer products, also find more of an audience in Johannesburg (where they have a showroom in the exciting Arts on Main complex), although their products also feature at the Saturday Neighbourgoods Market at the Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.

The Western Cape Furniture Initiative is a provincial government of Western Cape’s special purpose vehicle tasked to develop the furniture sector in the province. Its works closely with all levels of the industry and recognizes the importance of supporting designers needs as a critical feature towards improving the sector. The discussion ranged from the appreciation (or lack thereof) of design and its contribution to products, to the state of local manufacturing and the reluctance of some Cape Town retailers to stock local products.

A point of tension was revealed in the collusion between consumers and manufacturers to bypass the designer and copy designs without permission, undermining the designers’ wish to acknowledge the manufacturers.

Porky related how his organic treehouse cum lounger, based on the indigenous Weavers Nest made from alien trees, was simply ordered directly from a local job creation project whom he had supported and promoted. Worse was that the organisation simply agreed to copy it for a customer without Porky’s permission. Luke and James had similar problems in working with local crafts people who often are not interested or able to produce on time or to specifications due to their own circumstances or willingness.

An exciting discussion ensued about the retail and marketing of locally produced furniture, Woodstock’s place in the history of furniture manufacture and retail and – supported by the WCFI – what could go into policy around the stocking of local design and products by retailers.

Sadly other invited designers such as Haldane Martin, Gregor Jenkins, and Pierre Cronje were unable to be there.

The monthly Creative Clusters Breakfasts at Bird Café hosted by Creative Cape Town give design practitioners the opportunity to meet and share information; often leading to exciting ideas and collaboration and are part of its broader networking strategies.

Stuart has been one of five new staff and interns who have been working on the Creative Cape Town team. Interns are not usually paid and use the opportunity to learn how to work in a professional environment, grow their networks and learn new skills.

Azwi Netshikulwe has completed a Masters Degree in Sociology (UCT) and is also an intern on the East City Design Initiative, where he has been working on a survey to understand the needs of the creative industries in the city for an innovation hub focused on design ICT and media in the East City. You can check out the survey here.

Caroline Reusch is a student at Macromedia University of Applied Science, Stuttgart, Germany, where she is studying towards a Bachelors Degree in Media Management, Public Relations and Communication. She has been assisting Creative Cape Town on a range of events including The ECDI Symposium, the Creative Clusters Bird Café Breakfasts, the Cape Town Design Network events and a planned Creative Week.

Noxolo Victoria Cacambile is a final year Graphic Design student from the Cape Peninsula’s University of Technology at the Bellville campus. Noxolo is on an internship during her mid year holidays and has been working on designs for various events and exhibitions in which Creative Cape Town has been involved.

The other parts of the Creative Cape Town team include Lorelle Bell who joined as the World Design Capital Bid Co-ordinator this year and Zayd Minty the Creative Cape Town Co-ordinator.

Zayd has worked since 1992 as a cultural producer, researcher, and consultant in Cape Town. He has an interest in culture, cities, and diversity in the South. As an independent producer he curated a number of contemporary art projects, festivals, dialogic forums and conferences including: A Place Called Home (2004), BLAC (1998 – 2003), Returning the Gaze (2000), Liberating Zones (2003), and The VANSA Conference on visual arts: Transformation | Growth | Opportunity (2006). He has served at a senior level in a range of cultural institutions including the District Six Museum (2003 – 2005) and Robben Island Museum (1997-98) , as well as on a number of boards. He is currently a board member of The Magnet Theatre Company , the Gold of Africa Museum and a Minstrels Carnival development board. As a research associate of the Isandla Institute – an urban studies think tank – he drafted a discussion document on cultural diversity in Cape Town entitled: Culture and the Right to the City: Diversity in the Cultural Ecology of Cape Town. He has written for various publications including Art South Africa and Urban Studies.

The dates for the 2010 Creative Week are 24 September – 3 October. A website that will allow possible partners to lodge their events goes live on 1 August: www.creativeweekct.co.za and until then you can send information or show your interest by emailing caroline@capetownpartnership.co.za.

Look forward to a exhibitions and a music event planned for the City Hall, events all over the “Loeries Village” on Long Street, cutting edge light shows, and much much more.

The Loeries Awards is SA’s major advertising, communication, design and experiential media awards event. It takes place at the Good Hope Centre and Long Street annually. Creative Cape Town is a non profit project tasked with promoting the creative and knowledge economy in Cape Town. As a partner to the Loeries, it is working with the event to profile Cape Town’s creative sector to both Loeries delegates and locals. Creative Week Cape Town is being developed as a legacy both of the Loeries and to support the bid for World Design Capital 2014. It is part of the Creative Cape Town’s strategy to position the city as an important hub for design globally. See www.capetown2014.co.za for more information.

At the last event in June there was a focus on Graphic Design in CT. Speakers included Bruno Morphett of Plan B Design and Tabatha King of Coley Porter Bell. Held, appropriately, at the Primedia Studios on the Fan Walk, this was a great space to feel the atmosphere of the 2010 FIFA World Cup which was due to start the next day. We were welcomed warmly by Karl Gostner from Primedia Cape Town. Karl oversees both Cape Talk and KFM, based at the Greenpoint Studios.

Our invited speakers gave visually rich presentations. Bruno works as an independent designer/DJ with a strong interest in type and he has done some incredible commissions, including logos for the World Design Capital bid, amongst others.

Coley Porter Bell is a relative newcomer on the CT design scene. It is a well known UK design company whose successes include a very creative rebranding of Kotex. The company decided to put its first international satellite office in Cape Town because of its interest in the local scene. Tabatha’s team has worked on a range of projects, including Cape Town Tourism’s Live it Louder brand and a range of projects for Fairview Wines and Cheeses.

The July Cape Town Design network event is entitled Airports, Bus Stations and Nominations. There are two speakers: Rod Stevens, who will talk about his design work on the CT international Airport and Roger Van Wyk and Lerato Berang, who will discuss the IRT Public Art.

Rod Stevens is an architect with Blueprint Architects (a joint venture with KMH and Jonker and Barnes Architects). Roger Van Wyk is an artist, curator and planner who has worked on a number of public art projects. Lerato Berang was one of five Young Curators at Cape Africa Platform where she co-produced Sessions Maputo in Mozambique and curated an unusual and brilliant project in a taxi.

The Cape Town Design Network 2010 is a project aimed at helping to create a forum for designers in the city. Nominations are being sought for an interim committee of the network to properly formulate the forum and to determine its future work. Individuals are welcome to nominate themselves.

Nominations are open to more than one person per organisation. Both younger and more experienced (busy) designers are needed as both energies are needed to drive the network at this early stage. If you are interested in being on this committee email caroline@capetownpartnership.co.za

The venue for the 8 July 2010 event is The Cape Creative Exhibition, 37 Main Road Greenpoint. Time: 17h30 – 19h30. The event is free with a cash bar. Rsvp: bronwyn@capetownpartnership.co.za to attend.

Cape Creative Exhibition is collaboration between the Visual Arts Network (VANSA), the Performing Arts Network (PANSA), Cape Film Commission, the Africa Centre, the Cape Craft & Design Initiative (CCDI) and The Fringe Arts, in partnership with Indalo Project and the City of Cape Town’s Tourism Department. This multi-disciplinary exhibition will showcase the creative talent of Cape Town, bringing together selected ranges of craft, design, fine art, film and performing art. The exhibition runs for the duration of the World Cup until 18 July 2010, in an industrial-style building diagonally opposite the stadium. The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 as well as for scheduled evening performances. See Facebook for more info.

Download Invitation.

Find out more and check out a digital version of the 2009 edition and download a rates card.

But beyond the media hysteria are many soccer players, supporters and followers who live and love the game with as much passion as the stars. Soccer Kultcha a photographic exhibition, beginning this month at The Michaelis Gallery in Orange Street, will celebrate the beautiful game and how it is played far from big stadiums.

The exhibition, curated by Paul Weinberg, Warren Nelson and Leanne Barling, in collaboration with Michaelis Art Gallery,, explores the footballers and their followers beyond the main stadiums.

These are the players who will kick a ball on any field they can find, sometimes with home-made balls or goals. This exhibition is about this vibrant soccer culture. The exhibition, will run from 11 June to 10 July and is bound to intriegue both local and international visitors.

The photographers participating in Soccer Kultcha are mainly street photographers who bring us their insights into football: off the radar and big screens but definitely on the map.

In South Africa, with its strong migrant and urban historical links, street photography has evolved into a distinct genre. Prevalent and pervasive, street photographers challenge official representations – of outsiders imaging the lives of others. This exhibition is a window on a world, highlighting how people photograph themselves and their fast changing typographies and cultures, as seen through the lens of football.

Far from official photographs, grand stadiums and headline grabbing photojournalism, the photographs of Soccer Kultcha invite us to rediscover the game of football, and the lives and passions of ordinary people who play and celebrate the game.

Soccer Kultcha is funded by the Embassy of Sweden and will be hosted by the Michaelis Art Gallery from 11 June to 10 July 2010.

Venue: Michaelis Galleries
University of Cape Town Hiddingh Campus
31 – 37 Orange Street
Cape Town
Dates and times: 11 June to 10 July 2010, Tue- Fri 10:00 – 15:00, Sat 10:00 – 12:00
For more information contact:
Nadja Deahnke at 021 4807170, 0823165272 or
Nadja.daehnke@uct.ac.za

One day it was the “New Space Theatre” and then it was “mothballed” and now “On Broadway” ,which was once around the corner in Shortmarket street has opened at 44 Long Street.

The New Space was planned to be a serious theatre building in the tradition of the Old Space Theatre from the ‘70s. Sadly it proved harder, is is common with performing arts ventures, to make the business model work and the venue did not bring in the audiences it needed to sustain it. It was a brilliant development, with two performance spaces, three hangout and eateries downstairs and a range of creatives above, but sadly parts of the project were not working.

On Broadway has been a successful endeavour from its early days in Greenpoint and had developed a strong audience base. As a form of supper theatre, it has consistently shown some of the best in music, comedy and more. Mark Lottering and many others are associated with the venue.

It re-established itself at 88 Shortmarket Street which had, for many years previously, been the venue for some great clubs like The Base and Scratch. This move to 88 Shortmarket proved to be a great change for the then sad building and the move reignited On Broadway’s already excellent programme. So it is brilliant that the owners of On Broadway have now moved this successful venture into the New Space and taken the downstairs restaurant as well. We look forward to great things from this exciting new partnership! It will be interesting now to see what moves into 88 Shortmarket!

The first Ghoema & Glitter: New Year Carnival in Cape Town exhibition is at the Iziko Good Hope Gallery at the Castle of Good Hope. This is a unique exhibition that documents this historical carnival, which has its roots in slavery in the Cape.

There is a strong focus on oral history and the exhibition includes photos, artworks, words, sound and video. It runs till 31 January 2011.

New Year Carnival and the Alibama exhibition has opened at the recently upgraded Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum.

Displaying New Year Carnival and the Alibmama at the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum signifies the neighbourhood’s important role in terms of the history and geography of the carnival. Cape Town carnival is an urban phenomenon with marching routes which historically linked the two largest inner-city residential areas; namely the Bo-Kaap and District Six.

New Year Carnival and the Alibama introduces the history of Cape Town’s ‘Tweede Nuwe Jaar’ Carnival by particularly exploring the stories behind the famous Afrikaans song Daar kom die Alibama, created in Cape Town during the second half of the 19th century. This song is traditionally sung by Klopse and Nagtroepe (Malay Choirs) and played to a ghoema (drum) rhythm. This exhibition showcases the rare flag of the Confederate States of America flown on the steamship CSS Alabama, which was donated to the South African Museum in the 1920s.

New Year Carnival and the Alibama run at the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum from 15 June until 30 November 2010. The exhibition can be viewed Mondays to Saturdays from 10:00 until 17:00. Visitors 16 years and older pay R10, while 16 years and under are welcomed for free. South African pensioners, school learners and students pay R5. Free entrance on selected commemorative days.

The Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum recently underwent extensive renovations and upgrading. The museum is now wheel-chair friendly, with a ramp allowing disabled visitors to enter via the courtyard. The museum also has a lift, ensuring access to the community hall.

For more information please visit www.iziko.org.za. Enquiries can be directed to Fiona Clayton on 021 464 1267, or e-mail fclayton@iziko.org.za. Alternatively, please contact Katie Mooney on 021 464 1262 or e-mail kmooney@iziko.org.za, or Shanaaz Galant on 021 464 1276 or e-mail sgalant@iziko.org.za.

These individual portraits, measuring 1.8 by 1.5 metres and the ‘Unity’ portrait measuring 2.7 by 3.6 metres, were unveiled in Berlin in January 2010 and have been travelling as an exhibition beginning in Paris, and will finally end up in South Africa in June.

The Kehinde Wiley exhibition is being held at Studio One, 186 Bree Street, Cape Town, from 24 June – 3 July 2010.

The event opened on 23 June at an exclusive evening attended by artists, designers, models, DJs, photographers, art curators and more organised by Trevor Mitchell of Creative Capsule. The exhibition takes place in a great photo studio which has also been the scene of some memorable parties in the past few years. An excellent video explains the projects and locates it in the African Continent. A great pop-up store selling products made for the project including some super sneakers, laces, shirts and more was open outside the venue. The same items can be seen in the exhibition. Puma has a commissioned an excellent project – well worth the visit.

Viewing is open to the public from 10am – 6pm daily. Join in celebrating Africa’s heritage and unity by coming to view this exclusive exhibition. For further information please contact Splash PR on 021 790 9911.