Feast of art at Joburg’s biggest Open Studios open to the public this October

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

This first happened earlier this year May, but now it is back and bigger, involving six art studios around Johannesburg CDB, and art lovers, art collectors and those simply curious will have a field day, sampling art works of all styles and techniques from South Africa’s best fine art minds and pioneers.

And the last time this happened, there was a lot of fun to be had, meeting fellow collectors and art enthusiasts, and more crucially sampling exciting art at the three studios that participated. However the event though this is its central purpose, is not just about art. There is artisan food sample, music, talks and much more, catering for every entertainment taste you can ever imagine.

And more importantly, just like the last time, this time buses will be provided to take visitors from one studio to another. I remember the last time after viewing some of the most interesting contemporary art works at different studios, I ended up at August House, enjoying some artisan food and drinks with quite a cool crowd. It all happened at the famous roof top of August House at the other side of town.. It was such a lovely experience, I must say. Not even the rather chilly weather on that day deterred people from enjoying themselves as they mingled, meeting new friends and exchanging views on art.

Ladies and gentleman welcome to the second Joburg Open Studios iteration, organized by Meta Foundation in collaboration with its partnering art studios around Johannesburg CBD..

 The word from the organisers is that although the May, 2021, event was big as I have indicated, this October’s event is even bigger and promises to be even more exciting than the previous one for visitors as they will get an opportunity this time to meet over 100 artists working in their studios. I can not vouch for this one until I am there, and will be there.

Aptly billed  the “Biggest Open Studios  in Johannesburg”, the event takes place for two days, 30 and 31 October 2021 – 11am to 4pm.

“The META foundation has instigated the largest joint open studios to ever happen in Johannesburg. Six studio spaces, in the CDB, will be opening their doors, inviting the public to meet the artists in their studios and to view their artwork. The META foundation started this project with a soft launch in May, combining two studio spaces, namely August House and Ellis House. This iteration of the event will be even larger and will include two days of open studios with six studio spaces participating. This is the first time something of this nature has been done in Johannesburg and will allow the public to interact with almost 100 artists from different countries, cities and artists at different stages of their careers.

This is a unique opportunity for the public to truly explore the visual arts and hear directly from the artists. The event will take place over two days, Saturday 30 October and Sunday 31 October with 3 studios being open on each day Saturday 30 October from 11am to 3pm Ellis House Living Artist Emporium Victoria Yards Sunday 31 October from 11am to 3pm Bag Factory Artists’ Studios Nugget Square August House In order to make this event as visitor friendly as possible, a shuttle service between the spaces will be provided free of charge to the public. Guests can park at one of the studios and catch a bus. There will be two buses that move in a loop around the studios with a bus being available every 15/20 minutes. All the spaces will be offering the public programmes that will run through-out the day. The event is free and open to all members of the public. Access will be refused to anyone not wearing a mask or members of the public not adhering to social distancing obligations,” Meta Foundation says in its promotional statement.

Sara Hallatt of the Meta Foundation has been at the forefront of this drive to promote visit to visitors to visit artists in their studios with the first iteration in May having been pretty successful also because visitors do not have to worry about driving from one studio to another as they can simply park their cars and use the buses provided.