In the News: V&A Waterfront presents A MUSEUM CENTRED ON ACCESS FOR ALL.
Cape Town, 22 February 2016 — This past Saturday, the 2016 ZEITZ MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART AFRICA (ZEITZ MOCAA) Gala presented by Standard Bank Wealth and Investment, attracted a prestigious line-up of VIP and celebrity guests onto its red carpet.
Now in its second year, the gala is fundamental in raising funds to ensure Access for All, and programming for exhibitions and programming at the museum including at the museum’s Costume Institute. It was a night that honoured patrons for their generous support and contribution to the creation of what will be Africa’s most significant museum in over one hundred years.
The 2016 Zeitz MOCAA Gala was presented by Standard Bank Wealth and Investment with major supporters being Gucci, Elle, and Perrier-Jouët.
Chief Executive of Standard Bank Wealth and Investment, Margaret Nienaber, commented on their support: “We are passionate about Africa and her growth story and potential. Throughout our more than 150 year history and our involvement in the Arts we have been fortunate to share in the stories of some extraordinary individuals, some of whom will also contribute to the success of Zeitz MOCAA. Our clients have always shown an interest in, and a passion for, the Arts and we believe that Zeitz MOCAA is a celebration of Africa’s rich cultural heritage and a wonderful platform for shaping the next generation leaders.”
The exquisite fusion of fashion on the red carpet, combined with the distinctly African atmosphere and flair, left no doubt that this event is the preeminent art and design social event in Africa.
The museum will have its home in the ambitiously reimagined historic Grain Silo complex at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. The process to setting up museum structures is underway, running parallel to the physical construction. As a not-for-profit institution, fundraising is critical to building the necessary endowments that will fund not only operations but also museum advancement.
Ticket sales for the gala raised R2.5 million for the Access for All Campaign. This will ensure that no one is ever turned away from Zeitz MOCAA due to the inability to afford admission. Thanks to Access for All, the museum will have some free days every week.
Two big announcements were made on the night. The much-anticipated official opening date, 23 and 24 September 2017, and the Museum’s Board of Trustees: Suzanne Ackerman-Berman, David Green, Isaac Julien, Wengechi Mutu, Gassant Orrie, Albie Sachs, and Jochen Zeitz.
Executive Director and Chief Curator of the museum, Mark Coetzee said: “This museum is a symbol, an icon, of the confidence we feel about being African, the confidence that we feel about our place in the world. And that’s what makes this so extraordinary. We have been given an opportunity to create a museum for all, and we must guarantee Access for All.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Carla White
Email: carla.white@zeitzmocaa.museum
Cell: 078 421 2982
Jo-Ann Strauss
Image by Trevor Samson
Miss South Africa, Liesl Laurie and Dorianne Weill
Image by Trevor Samson
Terry Pheto
Image by Esa Alexander
Creating a Contemporary Art Museum for Africa
The 2016 Zeitz MOCAA Gala presented by Standard Bank Wealth and Investment, follows the 2013 announcement of the unique partnership between the V&A Waterfront and German businessman Jochen Zeitz, who together are creating a one-of-kind space that will be home to a cutting-edge, design-conscious museum of contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora.
The V&A Waterfront has invested R500 million in the development of Zeitz MOCAA, while the Zeitz Collection (which is considered to be one of the most extensive and representative collections of contemporary art from across Africa) will form the founding collection. Jochen Zeitz will also contribute a portion of the operating costs of the museum. The collection will be housed and displayed in the redeveloped Grain Silo, scheduled to open on 23 and 24 September 2017.
Zeitz MOCAA is a registered not-for-profit institution.
Built in 1921, the 57m tall reimagined historic Grain Silo will itself be a work of art upon completion, with internationally acclaimed architectural designer Thomas Heatherwick breathing new life into the 95-year-old industrial structure that will become the art museum.
A permanent home for the Zeitz Collection
South African-born Mark Coetzee is the Executive Director and Chief Curator of Zeitz MOCAA, and comes with an international track record for directing cultural institutions that define best practice. These include the “Miami Model” with the Rubell Family Collection and a new ground breaking corporate responsibility model through PUMAVision.
Zeitz MOCAA is the first major museum in Africa dedicated to contemporary art from Africa, and also the first African institution to acknowledge new mediums through the establishment of different centres and institutes within the overall museum.
Following the announcement at last year’s gala fundraiser of the establishment of a Costume Institute, other centres include the Centres for Photography, for Curatorial Excellence, for the Moving Image, for Performative Practice, and for Art Education.
In addition to the different Centres, the museum will also feature a myriad of gallery spaces, a sculpture garden, bookshop, restaurant, technical training areas, research labs, reading rooms etc.
A project as visionary and ambitious as this would never have been realised without the generous support of companies and individuals. Monies raised through fundraising events, such as the gala, will be invested in the Zeitz MOCAA Endowment for the purpose of ensuring free entry to anyone wishing to see this vast, culturally valuable one-of-a-kind art collection.
On its completion, Zeitz MOCAA will be spread over nine floors, of which 6 000 square meters (65 000 square feet) will be dedicated to exhibition space. Through an entire floor dedicated to education, the museum will develop a new art-loving, museum-going audience.
Gala Hosts
The annual fundraising gala dinner was hosted by David Green and Jochen Zeitz (Co-chairs of Zeitz MOCAA), Mark Coetzee (Executive Director of Zeitz MOCAA), Sim Tshabalala (Chief Executive of Standard Bank Group), Emilie Gambade (Editor of Elle South Africa), and the 2016 Gala Host Committee.
Gala Host Committee
Denise Dogon, Eku Edewor, Marianne Fassler, Nina Kovensky, Wendy Luhabe, Anina Malherbe-Lan, Annicia Manyaapelo, Swaady Martin, Lee Mokoena, Rosette Ncwana, Rapelang Rabana, Hanneli Rupert, Tham-Tham Tshiki, Marlene van der Westhuizen, and Clare Wiese.
About the Standard Bank Group
The Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets and earnings. We will focus on delivering superior sustainable shareholder value by serving the needs of our customers through first-class, on-the-ground operations in 20 countries on the African continent. We will also connect other selected emerging markets to Africa and to each other, applying our sector expertise, particularly in natural resources, globally. The group’s nearly 49 000 employees in all regions deliver a complete range of services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking and wealth management.
Standard Bank Wealth and Investment is the high net worth wealth management division of the Group, and services clients with the potential for net investable assets in excess of USD1million. With offices throughout South Africa, and in Kenya, Nigeria, Mauritius, London and Jersey we offshore a seamless solution for clients on-and offshore financial planning needs.
For further information go to www.standardbank.com/wealthandinvestment