Join Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko) in celebrating our diverse heritage with the in_herit FESTIVAL 2019 – a dynamic, week-long cultural programme with *free entry to selected museums!
The festival activities are geared towards engendering respect for South Africa’s diverse heritage, and echoes’ the national theme to: Celebrate South Africa’s literary classics in the year of indigenous languages.
“Museums are dynamic, evolving spaces of exploration and discovery. Iziko has a significant role to play in connecting people; engendering respect for our heritage; building new knowledge; fostering creativity and showcasing the splendour of our world through our exhibitions and programmes,” says Ms Rooksana Omar, CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa. “The in_herit FESTIVAL speaks directly to our core business of conserving and keeping our heritage alive, providing tangible experiences reflective of our [her]stories, culture, tradition and art” she concluded.
Iziko has put together a multifaceted programme of exciting and engaging events, activities, workshops, talks, tours and exhibitions. The in_herit FESTIVAL 2019, in collaboration with Afrofest, the Castle of Good Hope and Groot Constantia, kicks off on Monday, 23 September, with a Heritage Day celebration on the 24th, and runs right through until Sunday, 29 September 2019.
On Heritage Day, Iziko Museums will be jam-packed with fun-filled and engaging activities for all. The Iziko South African Museum will be abuzz with activity, including demonstrations of indigenous games in the amphitheatre; an isiXhosa basket weaving workshop; fossil casting and Bee Aware![ness] workshops; face painting; a photo booth; as well as live spiders and scorpion displays.
Toni Stuart’s performance: “Eve-Krotoa's Jazz suite, a poem in three movements” takes place at the Iziko Slave Lodge, where the exhibition, Under the Cover of Darkness, brings to light previously untold [her]stories of women enslaved at the Cape.
Outdoor painting on the lawns of the Iziko South African National Gallery; the Amazing Race at Groot Constantia; guided tours of the museums; and a series of short films are among the Heritage Day highlights.
The Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome is an immersive, 360 degree perspective, 3D edu-tainment experience where virtual voyages come to life. On Heritage Day ONLY, the most advanced planetarium on the continent will be HALF PRICE. Shows exploring the furthest reaches of the universe; the depths of our oceans; the inner workings of the human body and the intricacies of atomic and chemical structures will be screened. See Cell Cell Cell; Accidental Astronauts; Sky Tonight; Journey to the Stars; and Search for Life – Are we Alone?
The week-long in_herit FESTIVAL programme comprises of a series of engaging activities and will take place at various Iziko museum sites. Talks namely: What is Archaeology in the 21st Century? and Who is Collecting What, How, from Whom, and What for?, will take place,
The African Short Film Festival by Schnitt hosted in collaboration with Afrofest, and the Friends of the SAM Film Festival promises to be a visual feast. Other events include a drawing class with Hentie van der Merwe at the Iziko South African National Gallery; City Sightseeing Free Walking Tours of Cape Town; a discussion on Rethinking the William Fehr Collection and tours at the Castle of Good Hope.
All the events will take place at various Iziko museum sites, including the Iziko South African Museum, the Iziko South African National Gallery, and the Iziko Slave Lodge. Programme activities are available online on the Iziko website, www.iziko.org.za, as well as via Iziko social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Entrance to Groot Constantia and the Castle of Good Hope are *Free ONLY on Heritage Day (24 September 2019); The Planetarium shows are HALF-PRICE only on Heritage Day 24 September. Museums closed on Saturdays and Sundays, or currently under renovation, are EXCLUDED.
About Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko)
Iziko operates 11 national museums, the Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Social History Centre and three collection specific libraries in Cape Town. The museums that make up Iziko have their own history and character, presenting extensive art, social and natural history collections that reflect our diverse African heritage. Iziko is a public entity and public benefit organisation that brings together these museums under a single governance and leadership structure. The organisation allows *free access to all individuals on commemorative days, (*excluding the Castle of Good Hope, Groot Constantia and Planetarium and Digital Dome). Visit our webpage at www.iziko.org.za, join our online community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IzikoMuseums), Instagram (@izikomuseumssa) or follow us on Twitter (@Iziko_Museums) for regular updates on events, news and new exhibitions.
Issued by: Ellen Agnew
Communications Coordinator: Iziko Museums of South Africa
Telephone: 021 481 3830
E-mail: eagnew@iziko.org.za
Website: www.iziko.org.za
Issued on behalf of the Office of the CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa
Media images and interview requests, please contact:
Zikhona Jafta on 021 481 3838 or at zjafta@iziko.org.za
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