UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Art Design and Architecture (FADA) produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future.

In line with this vision, the 2017 annual programme gears itself towards stimulation and engagement; located solidly within the South African and Pan-African arts philosophy and methodology of focus in the creation of dialogue, discourse and a demonstration of a way forward. UJ Arts & Culture embarks on a brand new chapter in 2017, with an urban music offering that keeps our vision of shaping African futures within the arts alive. This platform comprises of five concerts intended to generate and develop audience access to some of Johannesburg’s leading composers and musicians in jazz, afro-punk and experimental music. The first half of the year sees this jazz offering taking shape in the Arts Centre Main Theatre, located at the Kingsway campus, with performances by The Wretched, Ippyfuze and the Amandla Freedom Ensemble.

Inspired by the revolutionary writing of Frantz Fanon in his seminal text The Wretched of the Earth, The Wretched is a space that experiments with notions of intertextuality. Performed by jazz musicians Tumi Mogorosi, Andrei Van Wyk (Healer Oran) and Gabisile Motuba, this sonic interpretation of the Fanonian text forms the basis of the ensemble’s philosophy, a multiplicity of sounds – cohesive and distorting. The idea of the trio is to sonically carry this discourse into the performative space. Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz (2016), Siya Makuzeni, performs with her band Ippyfuze in May. Audiences can also look forward to a symphony orchestra performance by UJ Arts & Culture’s residents, The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC) as well as the Resonance String Quartet, important anchor points in UJ’s already-established classical music programme.

Since taking over the reins from Ashraf Johaardien (now the Executive Producer of the National Arts Festival) in an acting capacity, Grace Meadows has further developed partnerships with local, provincial and national arts organisations, pushing the boundaries and scope of UJ Arts & Culture’s annual offering. This year sees UJ partner with Jo’burg locals such as POPArt and Goliath & Goliath to present Out The Box stand-up comedy, featuring various highly talented local acts. Think Theatre and The Playhouse Company from KwaZulu-Natal will present their exciting productions of Othello and Hamlet.

In response to last year’s unavoidable programme changes and cancellations brought on by unrest in the higher education sector, UJ Arts & Culture is newly committed to its role in audience development and engagement. ‘We’re presenting a programme that reclaims the future, despite the difficult headspace South Africans may find themselves in. It’s in these trying times that artists inspire agency, change and hope for a better tomorrow,’ explains Meadows. Renewed efforts focused on producing theatre for young audiences through collaborating with the South African chapter of ASSITEJ – the international association of theatre for children and young people underpins this strategy of audience development and engagement. Greatly subsidised ticket prices and a new online platform streamlines bookings and communications for ease of access to UJ Arts and Culture’s venues and arts offerings.

Bookings for all events, unless otherwise stated, are through Computicket. For further information or to be part of the UJ Arts & Culture mailing list, please contact Precious Maputle on 011 559 3058 or email her on preciousm@uj.ac.za.

Note: Parking for all UJ Arts & Culture events is now in the Kingsway parking lot. Patrons are required to have their tickets printed prior to arrival for presentation to security at the entrances.