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Arts & Culture Attractions

Overview

From stand-up comedy and breathtaking dance to all-star musicals, iconic design and world-renowned artworks, Gauteng’s arts and culture scene represents a refreshing glance into a melting pot of talent and passion.

In Johannesburg, the Newtown cultural precinct is the destination of choice for those looking for an authentic art experience with a local vibe to match. It is home to edgy jazz bars, the fabulous and funky Museum Africa, excellent restaurants and African cafés, lively nightspots and the Market Theatre complex.

The glitz and glamour of a night at the theatre or ballet lures patrons to performances at the Market and State theatres, Joburg Theatre Complex and the Theatre on the Square in Sandton. Aside from these more formal outings, provocative dramas and contemporary political pieces are performed in various venues throughout the province.

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For a fun-filled afternoon with the family, look no further than the widely franchised Barnyard Theatres scattered across the region. Mostly home to musicals and concert performances, these comfortable dinner and dance venues offer a fun show and great meal, coupled with authentic ambience, for a very fair price.

For art lovers, Gauteng’s museums and galleries offer visitors a rich artistic feast – from the traditional artefacts of ancient cultures to the cutting-edge work of today’s practitioners.

There is a plethora of commercial and non-commercial galleries with exhibitions that change regularly. The Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, run by curator Liza Essers, includes the works of South African artists who are making an impact on the international art scene. The Everard Read Gallery in Rosebank and the Gallery on the Square in Sandton are just two places where art lovers can browse and shop to take home a depiction of South Africa by famous artists such as Dylan Lewis, John Meyer and Henk Serfontein.

First opened to the public in 1910, the Johannesburg Art Gallery exhibits an extensive collection of international and local artists’ works, including those of Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Gerard Sekoto, Walter Battiss, Rodin, Henry Moore, William Kentridge and Sydney Kumalo.

A permanent collection that includes works by Irma Stern, Gerard Sekoto and Judith Mason is housed in the Pretoria Art Museum.

Universities play an important role in acquiring works of national interest, with collections housed at the Gertrude Posel Gallery at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of South Africa’s gallery in Pretoria.

For art lovers and theatre buffs alike, the Gauteng art and culture scene is hip and happening, a vibrant space that is making its mark internationally. If you visit Gauteng, make sure to pop in at one of these many attractions and experience the art beat of a passionate province.