FNB Art Joburg 2023 Open City

23 Aug 2023

Lounging by Frances Goodman. Photo: SMAC Gallery.

Photography by Ernest Cole. Photo: Supplied.

Bulumko Mbete. Photo: Bulumko Mbete via Instagram.

FNB Art Joburg, one of the largest contemporary art fairs in Africa is back, along with a second instalment of its accompanying Open City initiative. While FNB Art Joburg is limited to just one weekend at the Sandton Convention Centre, the Open City programme is a two-week celebration of Joburg's diverse art, food and culture scene. With the aim of increasing the accessibility and inclusivity of Joburg's bountiful arts and culture spaces and discourse, Open City takes place at collaborating venues across the city.

Open City 2023 runs from Thu, Aug 31 – Tue, Sep 19, with a programme of free and ticketed events happening at various venues including exhibition walkabouts, art talks, live music and performances, food and fashion collaborations, film screenings, parties, pop-up markets and more.

A weekend art stayover in the city

Fox Street Penthouses Photo: Curiocity. — Experience BMW Art Generation by immersing yourself in the city. Book a stayover with one of our exciting art packages. See more here. Photo: Fox Street Penthouses, Curiocity.

Part of the Open City programme is BMW Art Generation – a feast of events taking place from Sat, Sep 2 – Sun, Sep 3 in collaboration with William Kentridge's Centre for the Less Good Idea in Maboneng. There's an excellent programme of talks, performances by William Kentridge and Gregory Maqoma, plus a lifestyle market with a focus on fashion, food, music and books. To make it easier to attend we have curated a special collection of travel packages for an overnight stay in Maboneng. See the details here and book soonest.

Open City Programme

FNB Art Joburg 2023 Open City. Photo: Supplied.

Thu, Aug 31 from 18:00 – SENSES group exhibition opening at Goethe-Institut in Parkwood.

Thu, Aug 31 from 18:00 – The Weight of a Kiss exhibition by Motlhoki Nono (the 2022/2023 Ernest Cole Award recipient) opening at 70 Juta Street in Braamfontein.

Thu, Aug 31 from 20:00 – Discussion of The Imagined New (or, What Happens When History is a Catastrophe?) at Sophiatown Arts Akademy in Brixton.

Sat, Sep 2 from 10:00 – Open day at Inside Out Centre for the Arts, a new museum in Forest Town established by Roger Ballen, with an inaugural exhibition entitled End of the Game.

Sat, Sep 2 from 11:00 – Altered States by Frances Goodman opening at SMAC Gallery in Parkhurst.

Wed, Sep 6 from 20:00 – An Ode to Punk, a panel discussion at Sophiatown Arts Akademy in Brixton.

Sat, Sep 9 from 11:00 – Head to the Goethe-Institut in Parkwood for a walkabout for the group exhibition, SENSES.

Sun, Sep 10 from 15:00 – A soccer and art-incorporated Exhibition Match at Discovery Soccer Park Sandton in Parkmore.

Wed, Sep 13 from 11:00 – Join Motlhoki Nono for a walkabout of her exhibition The Weight of a Kiss at 70 Juta Street in Braamfontein.
Wed, Sep 13 from 15:00 – The Okra Thief – Stories from Tingel, is an afternoon for children with Sipho Ndlovu and Katharina Fink at Sophiatown Arts Akademy in Brixton.

More venues and collaborators to be announced soon, so keep an eye on FNB Art Joburg's social media.