Culture Connect Curated Experiences span a range topics that showcase the vibrant cultural life of Cape Town and its environs. The tours are the brainchild of Kate Crane Briggs, who aims to connect participants to South Africa’s art, people, history and architecture.
Those joining in can either book a private tour, or join a group outing. Customised tours include Cape Town’s Centre, Art to See & Art to Buy, and Architecture & Design. Here’s some upcoming highlights to diarise.
Groote Schuur, Rhodes’ House Museum – 12 September 2024
Curator Dr Rayda Becker’s much awaited tour of Groote Schuur. Cecil John Rhodes commissioned the young architect Herbert Baker to design a Cape Dutch Revival style home and office for him, as well as a place for entertaining in style.
In his will, Rhodes bequeathed Groote Schuur to the Cape colony. 80% of the house’s contents are from his time here. Rhodes sent agents to comb the world for furniture, porcelain, silver and glassware produced in the Cape. From 1910 to 1984 Groote Schuur was the Cape Town residence of South Africa’s prime ministers and presidents. Visitors ranged from Mahatma Gandhi to British prime minster, Harold MacMillan.
Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk signed the Groote Schuur Minute here in 1990. This was about the return of exiles to South Africa and the release of political prisoners. It has also been used for film locations. 2009’s Invictus directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman (the first actor to be cast as Mandela) and Matt Damon, who played François Pienaar, the captain of the Springboks in 1995, the South Africa rugby union team.
Dr Rayda Becker has been the curator of Groote Schuur House Museum since 2011. Prior to this Rayda was a Fine Arts professor at the University of South Africa. She was the senior art curator at the University of the Witwatersrand where she studied 1959 – 1962; subsequently she did her PhD on a South African traditional art here.
Where: Groote Schuur Estate, Klipper Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town. A map, background info, guest list and other finer details will be sent just before the tour.
Dr Rayda Becker is giving this Culture Connect on Thursday 12 September and Tuesday 17 September, 2024, from 10am to noon. Bookings will be closed two days before each tour to allow for security clearance.
R300 paying a week in advance, then R400 each, include your ID/passport number when booking and bring the original to the tour. To book, email +27 (0)72 377 8014 (don’t forget your ID/passport number).
Salt River Street Art & History – 19 September 2024
With over 100 murals, Salt River is the place to be if you like street art. The variety is huge – gigantic, tiny, political, pretty, old and new. This tour is a hit, whatever your age or art taste. Home to the annual International Public Art Festival for five years 2017-2021, new large murals are now being commissioned by businesses, individuals and not-for-profits, notably the Salt River Heritage Society.
The area, so close to town, is full of history and is changing constantly for better, for worse. Colonial to community issues come alive. Apartheid and social justice struggles are almost palpable in Community House.
This fascinating neighbourhood was built mainly in the late 1800s as Cape Town’s first industrialised area, along with Woodstock next door. The walk includes the residential and business areas. You stop outside houses, ”light” industry, schools, mosques, churches, studios and not-for-profits.
The tour starts at:
Loaves by Madame Baker
Bakery/café
Unit B3, Salt Orchard
12 Briar Road (corner of Yew Street)
Salt River
It tends to finish 10-minutes’ walk away at sculptor (and recent graffiti artist) Uwe Pfaff’s studio, Swift St (just off Durham Ave). Details will be sent nearer the time. From 10am to noon. A map, parking, images, what to wear/bring and a short history of street art will be sent beforehand. Street parking easy to find (as ever, don’t leave valuables in sight)
R400 per person; R300 early bird paying at least 10 days in advance. E-mail WhatsApp/phone +27 72 377 8014 for bookings and info.
In a nutshell
Culture Connect Curated Experiences
Tour guide Kate Crane Briggs
Web: cultureconnectsa.com
Top picture: Kate Crane Briggs – customised Cape Town tours.
