Wits’ new art museum adds vibe to the inner city

In another nod to inner city development Wits launched its art museum with much aplomb on Thursday 10 May 2012. The launch was attended by a colourful mix of artists, art-lovers, media and even the odd celebrity who came to pay to their respects to Johannesburg’s newest gallery. The stylish canapés and free-flowing wine added panache to the occasion.

The gallery won the architecture category of the Absolut VISI Designer of the Year Award. The well-deserved accolade was awarded for the gallery’s clean, flowing lines and interactive nature of the exhibition space. The gallery is housed on the site what was formerly a petrol station, transforming what was a utilitarian space into an important link between Wits University and Johannesburg’s public. A coffee shop in the gallery’s forecourt adds to the interactive nature of the space.
Housed in the same building as the GCRO, on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Jorissen Street in Braamfontein, the Wits Art Museum is a world-class gallery with an inviting glass front, which allows passing pedestrians and motorists a view into the exhibition space. The 5000 m² of exhibition areas, research, teaching and administrative facilities add an exciting vibrance to the ongoing upgrade of the city as a whole.
The Wits Art Museum opens to the public on 19 May 2012.