This year sees the annual Maboneng Art Festival, a Maboneng Township Arts Experience initiative, bring together town and township life in an epic weekend celebrating African art and culture.
Known for breaking down boundaries by bringing strangers into homes of everyday South Africans, the Maboneng Arts Festival idea originally came from a need to find venues to showcase work by up-and-coming artists.
Founder Siphiwe Ngwenya was struggling to find a place to exhibit and decided, instead, to create his own exhibition within the area around his home in Alexandra.
More than 10 years later it has spawned two festivals and a total of 80 home art galleries in six townships, and has given budding artists a much-needed space to show off their talent.
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In line with its theme, “Town and Township”, this year the event will be held jointly between Cape Town city centre and Gugulethu township: the Maboneng Arts Experience has teamed up with sister organisation iKapa Dance Theatre, which will host the Cape Town International Dance Festival at the Artscape theatre in the CBD from November 28 until December 3 2015. Shuttles will be available to transport festival goers between the two venues.
On November 29 2015, art enthusiasts will be welcomed into homes of Gugulethu residents to view works from prolific artists, while enjoying the area’s unique culture and bright murals through guided tours. In addition to a carefully curated selection of local and international art, visitors can look forward to a variety of African music, film screenings, performances and plenty of theatre productions.
This article was originally published in Sunday Times Neighbourhood: Property & lifestyle guides. Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za, like YourNeighbourhoodZA on Facebook and follow YourHoodZA on Twitter.
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