March 29, 2005
By Thomas Thale
FOR THE second time in its 95-year history, the Johannesburg Art Gallery is to move, this time from its purpose-built premises in Joubert Park to the renovated Turbine Hall in Newtown - at a cost of R110-million.
This follows a council decision to approve plans for its relocation over three years, to Newtown, which is being reinvented as a vibrant cultural precinct. The City hopes to raise the funds for the relocation from the private sector and the provincial and national governments.
The gallery is a national monument and the art collection has a rich history dating back to 1910, when it was set up on the premises of what is today's Wits University. It moved to its current premises in 1915.
It boasts the largest collection of priced artworks on the sub-continent, housed in 15 exhibition halls. In recent years, however, the area has declined, turning a visit to the gallery into a hazardous adventure.
A report tabled before council cites a high crime rate, vandalism, costly maintenance, hawkers blocking the pavements, taxis blocking the entrance and the deterioration of the building as reasons for the relocation. It estimates that the move would raise visitor figures from 80 000 a year now to 150 000 a year.
Anglo Gold Ashanti would set up its head office in the Turbine Hall, sharing the building with the gallery, another spin off the report notes. "The relocation would provide a better home for the collections and create opportunities for revenue, cultural tourism and a museum quarter in Newtown."
However, the proposal has met with fierce resistance from the Democratic Alliance, which voted against it. Speaking on behalf of the party, Judith Briggs attributed the decline of the building and its surroundings to the failure of urban management. Describing the building as a major architectural gem, she argued that refurbishing it would cost much less than the R110-million price for relocating.
Briggs also suggested that Newtown could house an adjunct to the gallery. "It would be tragic to lose [the gallery] from Joubert Park. It is part of the heritage of the people of Johannesburg."
But Nkele Ntingane, who is responsible for municipal enterprises, dismissed Briggs's concerns, saying the decision to relocate the gallery was part of a larger City programme, based on the council's principle of precinct development as expressed in the Spatial Development Framework.
"We have already developed a Fashion District, a Financial District, a Gauteng Government Precinct and of course, the Cultural Hub in Newtown."
Ntingane added that relocating was not a decision that could be taken lightly. "Moving is not easy. It was not easy with the Constitution Hill. But the gallery will be going into its own district."
The City would take steps to protect the heritage building in Joubert Park, she said.
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