New museum gives Capetonians a chance to make history

02 September 2015 - 02:12 By Bobby Jordan

What history do you want? That's the question the Western Cape government is asking residents of Cape Town, who have been invited to select the content for a new museum.The Cape Town Museum, officially launched yesterday by the Western Cape government, but only expected to open late next year, will not have a curator.Exhibitions housed in one of the city's oldest buildings will be chosen by the public and administered by a museum manager."This will not be a stuffy old museum that you may remember from school visits," said Hannetjie du Preez, head of cultural affairs for the province's cultural affairs department.The museum plan is part of a public-private partnership prompted by a property deal between the Western Cape government and Standard Bank involving the bank's former headquarters in Adderley Street.Known as the "Queen of Adderley Street", the 132-year-old Standard Bank Building will be converted into a combination of museum space and provincial offices.It is next door to the city's famous flower-sellers, and has a rich history of its own. Former clients include former Prime Minister Jan Smuts and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.Transport and public works MEC Donald Grant said he hoped the museum would become a world-class facility. "This is a wonderful palette for all of us to paint on," he said at the launch. "We really have got to make this something on the world map."Du Preez said the plan was to make the museum highly interactive, incorporating touch-screen displays and video clips.She said there were about 60 Cape Town museums, but none that told "the whole Cape Town story"...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.