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Joburg's City Centre has many working artists' studios that are vital to the city's creative economy; 13 take part in this year's festival. August House on End Street in Doornfontein is the largest and houses some of the country's most in-demand contemporary artists, while some of its previous residents – including Mary Sibande, Nelson Makamo, Sam Nhlengethwa, Kudzanai Chiurai, and Nicholas Hlobo – have gone on to major global acclaim. The historic Bag Factory on Mahlatini Street in Fordsburg was launched in 1991 and boasts alumni like Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, Kendell Geers, and Lady Skollie, to name a few.
OpenStudios.Joburg was founded by the META Foundation in 2022 and has showcased the work of more than 200 artists to date, resulting in nearly two million rand worth of sales. Which is why META Foundation founder and director, Sara Hallatt, sees Joburg's City Centre as a sleeping giant, ready to be reawakened.
"Artists are the backbone of the economy in the City Centre," says Hallatt. "Not only do they work in a plethora of buildings that otherwise might be neglected, hey also develop a business economy around themselves through the service providers they hire. They bring energy into the city and literally leave their mark in the form of artwork. The creative economy contributes to our GDP and our souls. We must not forget how important the consumption of culture is to the psyche of human beings.""Artists are the backbone of the economy in the City Centre." – Contra.Joburg founder Sara Hallatt.
For anyone interested in Joburg's art world, Contra.Joburg is a dream come true. Engaging with artists in their natural habitat and seeing works-in-progress alongside finished pieces enriches experiencing the work in a way that cannot be understated. Despite what's going on in Joburg socially, economically, and politically, it remains a place where artists choose to stay and have their practice. The city is inextricably tied to artists' stories, which Contra.Joburg gives you access to.
As the festival enters its third year, the re-brand speaks to its ethos moving forward. The definition of 'contra' is to be against or opposite; it's counter-revolutionary. Unlike the polished veneer of traditional arts festivals, Contra.Joburg is unique, turning the art world on its head by putting artists first. It's about building new art markets, strengthening and sustaining the visual arts ecosystem, and creating opportunities for all South Africans to enjoy meaningful access to the arts.
This year's event will retain the DNA of OpenStudios.Joburg with the studio as the focal point, while workshops with artists, walkabouts, and talks will all form part of the immersive, two-day experience. Transport between spaces will be provided by shuttles, free to use when you book your ticket. There are different venues open on different days and you must register for each venue you wish to attend.
Sat, May 25 from 10:30 – 17:00
11 Alexander Street Studio in Ferreirasdorp is a new addition to Contra.Joburg. Established in 2019 by Dorothee Kreutzfeldt and Nolan Oswald Denis, it's an independent, artist-led, community-sharing space.
Play Braam is the niche property development company behind Braamfontein's most playful district. Several spaces fall under their purview, including a new set of artist studios at 7 De Beer Street.
Bag Factory is one of South Africa's first collective artists' studios, operating since 1991 in an old factory in colourful Fordsburg on the edge of the City Centre. Over the years Bag Factory's 18 studio spaces have fostered the talents of some of the country's most celebrated contemporary artists.
Rand Club at 33 Loveday Street, Marshalltown, is the city's most enduring social institution and one of its finest heritage venues. Access members-only areas of the club during Contra.Joburg, home to a portion of the First Rand Art Collection as well as David Tlale's studio.
Creative Uprising Hub at Transwerke is located within the Constitution Hill precinct at Sam Hancock Street, Braamfontein. Don't let its unassuming exterior fool you; it's home to emerging visual artists, makers, and artisans changing the creative landscape of Joburg.
WLM at 7 Loveday Street, Marshalltown, partakes in Contra.Joburg with Express:On, an experimental exhibition curated by Khaya Madungandaba for emerging and established artists.
Grayscale Gallery at 33 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, is a small, urban art and street apparel store and gallery space founded by Rasty Knayles in 2006. There will be an exhibition, a street art tour, and live graffiti on the day.
Sun, May 26 from 10:30 – 17:00
Asisebenze Art Atelier at 28 Plein Street, hosts a wide range of artists who are as dynamic as the city in which they are based.
Living Artists' Emporium at the Ellis Park Tennis Courts supports grassroots emerging artists while facilitating the sales of their work to corporate and private buyers.
August House at 76 End Street, Doornfontein, is the largest studio space in Johannesburg, established in 2006. In a warren of studios, small and large, spread over several floors, you'll find a community of emerging artists and more established names living and working together, sometimes merely as neighbours and friends, and often as established art collectives too.
Oovookoo, which means 'uprising', is a hybrid studio-gallery space at 15 Hulbert Road, Village Deep, that provides affordable and accessible spaces for creatives to work out of.
Ellis House is a five-storey building at 23 Voorhout Street, Bertrams, that houses an eclectic mix of emerging and established artists.
Victoria Yards is a uniquely integrated urban complex at 16 Viljoen Street in Lorentzville that's as much about art and design as it is about social development. The complex is home to several prominent local artists including Stompie Selibe and James Delaney.
Showcasing creativity across the City Centre with its biggest edition to date, Contra.Joburg takes place on Sat, May 25 and Sun, May 26, 2024 from 10:30 – 17:00. You can start at any of the venues and work your way through; hop-on-hop-off shuttle buses come every 20 minutes or you can use an e-hailing service to move to your next chosen venue. Book your tickets here.
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