Celebrating 20 Years of UJ through the Arts

By CityLife Arts Writer

The University of Johannesburg (UJ), celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, reaffirms its commitment to fostering a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem that serves as a catalyst for societal impact. Since its amalgamation in 2005, UJ has emerged as a leading force in higher education, renowned for its academic excellence and dedication to community impact.

“UJ Arts & Culture embodies the transformative power of the arts,” says Pieter Jacobs, Head of UJ Arts & Culture. “By nurturing creativity and critical thinking, we equip our students with essential skills – from problem-solving and discipline to confidence and communication – that are highly valued in today’s dynamic job market.”

The 2025 programme boasts a diverse and exciting lineup of events, encompassing visual arts, theatre, music, film, poetry, and dance. Aligned with UJ’s strategic vision for sustainability and societal impact, these events will not only entertain but also challenge audiences, sparking meaningful conversations and inspiring positive change. 

“This year’s diverse range of activities reflects our core belief that the arts are not only a reflection of society but a catalyst for positive change. By fostering creative expression in all its forms, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the cultural landscape of South Africa, empowering individuals, inspiring critical thought, and strengthening our collective capacity to shape a just and inclusive future for all”, says Jacobs.

In March, a production of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray will be presented, which is the final component of the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture’s annual interdisciplinary theatre programme. Directed by UJ Resident Director, Jade Bowers, the play features Jaques De Silva, Andreas Damm, Sanelisiwe Yekani, and Liezl De Kock. The ensemble will be joined by members of the Market Theatre Foundation’s Kwasha! Theatre Company, that is collaborating with UJ on two projects this year, as well as top students from the UJ Arts Academy. 

This adaptation explores the timeless themes of beauty, desire, and the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition. As part of the University of Johannesburg’s commitment to harnessing the arts for societal impact, two special performances have been designed to include Deaf school-going learners. These performances will feature the integration of South African Sign Language (SASL) interpretation, ensuring accessibility and fostering agency for audiences that might otherwise be excluded from the experience. Trained South African Sign Language interpreters from Yellow Owl, will collaborate to deliver these performances, bridging the gap between the UJ stage and the deaf community. This initiative reflects UJ’s ongoing efforts to advocate for inclusivity and celebrate diversity through the arts. 

After a momentous 50th anniversary in 2024, UJ Choir, led by newly appointed choirmaster Sizwe Mondlane, will continue to delight audiences throughout the year. The choir heads into 2025 under the theme Choral Music of the 21st Century. Performances will include further celebrations as UJ Choir conjoins in lauding the University’s 20th year celebration. In 2025,  Voices+ will be launched, an ensemble comprising current and past singers of UJ Choir. It provides artistic a cappella entertainment on an intimate scale and upholds musical integrity and the quintessence of choral performance.

There are various fine art exhibitions at both the UJ Art Gallery on Kingsway Campus, curated by Dr Dineke Orton, and at the FADA Art Gallery on Bunting Road Campus where with newly appointed Curator and Senior Lecturer Farieda Nazier now at the helm. Audiences can expect a wide range of innovative and contemporary offerings.

Through initiatives such as the UJ Arts Academy and the UJ Arts Appreciation Programme, UJ Arts & Culture engages students from across the institution, nurturing a profound appreciation for the arts and fostering a dynamic artistic community. These programmes are designed to provide meaningful access to the arts for all UJ students, with the aim that upon graduation, they will carry a lasting affinity for the arts and creative expression.

Highlights of the 2025 programme include:

February  

• The Music in Africa Foundation (MIAF): In partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), MIAF will host an indigenous instrument exhibition at the UJ Gallery from 17 February to 15 March 2025. The exhibition celebrates the beauty and diversity of traditional African musical instruments while emphasising the importance of preserving them and ensuring they remain accessible and alive for future generations. Visitors can explore a wide variety of instruments from different African regions, each with its own unique story, offering insight into the deep cultural connections between these instruments and African storytelling traditions. The exhibition will culminate in a special concert celebrating the continent’s rich musical heritage featuring versatile artist Samthing Soweto and the legendary instrumentalist Dizu Plaatjies. The concert will take place at the Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre.

• “Abantu: Threads That Bind Us”: This exhibition by Khanya Mthethwa at the FADA Gallery will be curated by Dr Dineke Orton and Farieda Nazier. The exhibition explores South Africa’s indigenous cultures and cultural identity through an intimate lens, highlighting themes of resilience and cultural memory. This solo exhibition will be opening on the 27th of February at the UJ FADA Gallery, Bunting Road Campus at 18:00 for 18:30, and will run until the 28th of March. Walkabouts with the artist will take place on the 1st, 8th and 10th of March at 11:00.  

March 

• The Picture of Dorian Gray directed by Jade Bowers: Presented in collaboration with the Market Theatre Foundation’s Kwasha! Theatre Company, this fresh adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s timeless classic by Neil Bartlett will immerse audiences in a world where reality collides with morality. 

• The Poetry Africa International Festival: Presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in association with UJ Arts & Culture presents Table of Champions, an electrifying night of spoken word with five of South Africa’s top slam champions. The incredible line-up of talent features Xabiso Vili (2021), Kwanele Nyembe (2022), Lethu Nkwanyana (2023), Olive Olusegun (2024), and Nondumiso Mathibela (2024 Rising Star Slam Champion). Hosted by the dynamic Mandi Vundla, the evening will be a celebration of fierce poetic prowess and a showcase of the Poetry Africa Festival’s slam champions who have represented South Africa at the prestigious World Slam Championships over the past four years.

April

• Toor | Bos (UJ Gallery): Experience a multidisciplinary VR project, premiering at KKNK in Oudtshoorn, curated by Dr Dineke Orton. This unique collaboration features renowned visual artists Willem Boshoff and Jaco van Schalkwyk, poets Quaz Roodt and Bibi Slippers, VR specialist Herman Myburgh, and composer Jaco Meyer. Together, they merge visual art, poetry, virtual reality, and music to create an immersive artistic journey that pushes the boundaries of creative expression. 

• Vincent Mantsoe’s “Desert Poems”:  Internationally acclaimed South African dancer and choreographer, Vincent Mantsoe, brings his remarkable artistry to the stage with Desert Poems, a powerful and contemplative dance work. Desert Poems draws inspiration from the stark beauty and mystique of desert landscapes. With original music composed by Mantsoe, alongside additional music from The Disu Plaatjies Ibuyambo, the production captures the essence of resilience, survival, and the raw allure of an environment defined by extreme.

• In Black and White: The FADA photobooth (FADA Gallery): The exhibition features works by multiple artists including Santu Mofokeng, Lebohang Kganye, Ruth Seopedi Motau, and Andile Bhala. Curated by Landi Raubenheimer& Bongani Khoza, this exhibition examines nostalgia in black and white analogue photography within South Africa’s context.

May

• (R)evolution of Words: Returning in 2025, this vibrant poetry production, written by award winning poet Lebo Mashile, directed by Jade Bowers and curated by Lebo Mashile, Jade Bowers and Quaz Roodt will once again engage secondary school learners with poetry from the Grade 11 and 12 curricula. In partnership with the Market Theatre Foundation’s Kwasha! Theatre Company.  The production combines the South African poetry canon with contemporary voices, featuring works that reflect and challenge today’s cultural landscape. 

June 

• Mine Cleaner: (FADA Gallery) by Senzeni Marasela: Curated by Refhilwe Nkomo, uses mining landscapes as a metaphor for mental healing.

• Shadow City/Skade Stad (FADA Gallery): By Heinrich Nieuman explores urbanisation and alienation through e-waste installations and video art.

July

• C(l)one Star (UJ Art Gallery): This group exhibition features 15 artists responding to Gordon Froud’s cone virus sculptures, including Toni Pretorius, Lesiba Molomo, and Jaco van Schalkwyk. The exhibition will be curated by Rika Nortje.

• MTN x UJ New Contemporaries Winter School and Mentorship Programme (UJ Art Gallery): Targeted at primary and secondary school learners, the education programme will be designed to transfer art knowledge and skills comprising an exciting series of activities including interactive talks, drawing, painting and collage making workshops. This programme will seamlessly overlap with a mentorship programme involving visual art students from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) and recent graduates completing internships at UJ Art Gallery.

August

• Mzantsi Jazz Awards: UJ Arts & Culture is proud to host the prestigious Mzantsi Jazz Awards at the UJ Arts Centre. This esteemed event celebrates jazz as a transformative and healing art form, fostering intergenerational audiences and nurturing the vibrant jazz scene in Johannesburg.

• Choral Kaleidoscope | UJ 20-Year Celebration: An unforgettable evening of young voices at the UJ Arts Centre, part of the 20-year celebration festivities. This one-night-only performance showcases a dynamic blend of choral styles and musical genres, ranging from classical to contemporary, African traditional to global melodies.

• Rusted Ghosts and Traces of Forgetting and Remembering: Landscapes of Hope and Trauma (UJ Art Gallery): A poignant solo exhibition by Kim Berman, this collection delves into the themes of social and political destruction, hope, and memory, all through the evocative lens of landscapes. As part of UJ’s 20-year celebration, the exhibition holds particular significance, marking Berman’s retirement after 30 years of dedicated service to the University of Johannesburg. This powerful body of work invites reflection on the intersections of trauma and resilience, this collection of past and present work delves offering a deeply moving narrative in both art and academia.

September

• MTN x UJ New Contemporaries Award: The UJ Art Gallery and the MTN SA Foundation proudly celebrate the continuation of their prestigious New Contemporaries Award. This esteemed award provides a unique platform for emerging young curators to launch their careers and make their mark on the South African contemporary art scene. 

• Impact is a Verb (FADA Gallery): This creative research exhibition, curated by Farieda Nazier, will be showcasing FADA academics’ Research Associates and Artists in Residences’ work with a focus on navigating the contemporary academy as a platform for impactful art and design.

October

• MuziwakheNhlabatsi – Graphic Artist (UJ Art Gallery): A solo exhibition celebrating the prolific career of MuziwakheNhlabatsi, showcasing his graphic design, illustration, comic art, and fine art. The exhibition will be curated by Prof Deirdre Pretorius and Dr Dineke Orton.

• Poetry Africa International Festival: In partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts, UJ Arts & Culture will host the Johannesburg leg of the Poetry Africa International Festival. Now in its fourth return to the City of Gold, the festival has earned its place as a key event on the global poetry calendar, celebrating diverse voices and fostering vibrant cultural exchange.

• The UJ Arts Academy Showcase: A vibrant celebration of student creativity and artistic growth and presented as part of the University of Johannesburg’s commitment to holistic development, the Academy provides a dynamic space for students to explore poetry, drama, contemporary dance, ballet, photography, and music. This annual showcase offers a platform for students to share their artistic journey, culminating in an evening of diverse performances that reflect their year of exploration, learning, and cultural engagement.

• Masters Showcase (FADA Gallery): The showcase is a platform for selected master’s students from across the FADA disciplinary spectrum to exhibit their Practice Based Research.  The gallery creates an opportunity for two parallel solo shows.

November

• A Grand Night for Singing promises to be a glamorous and inspiring musical celebration, curated by FADA’s Executive Dean, Professor Federico Freschi. This gala fundraiser will support the Dean’s Bursary Fund, which was established by Professor Freschi to offer financial assistance to academically deserving students within the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture (FADA) who face financial challenges. 

• Honours Showcase: The FADA BA Honours group exhibition is an annual celebration of emerging Postgraduate talent within the visual art domain.

• Cumulus Conference 2025 | Johannesburg | South Africa:  Titled ‘Design Intelligence and 5IR’ will take place from in November. This double-blind peer-reviewed conference is hosted by the University of Johannesburg in co-operation with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The central theme of the conference focuses on the evolving role of design in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and beyond.

For more details about our exciting programme, visit www.arts.uj.ac.za.