FNB Art Joburg is proud to announce its partnership with Brand South Africa (BrandSA) to activate the city with art, music, performance, food and fashion, every day of the week for 16+ days for the 2024 edition of Open City. 

Surrounding the fair with art + culture, Open City will take over Johannesburg as the continent’s culture capital from 29 August – 13 September 2024. An active means of promoting social cohesion while fostering a sustainable ecosystem, Open City  gives independent and emerging cultural practitioners the opportunity to reach a wider audience of culture consumers. “As an official marketing and reputation management agency of South Africa, Brand South Africa has a mandate to build the country’s brand reputation, to improve its global competitiveness. The collaboration with FNB Art Joburg is aimed at promoting the country’s arts and culture strength to position the country’s image and reputation favourably.” – Acting Chief Marketing Officer, Mpumi Mabuza.

Taking place beyond the three-day fair, FNB Art Joburg remains committed to the city’s cultural landscape through Open City. A city-wide intervention, Open City fulfills FNB Art Joburg’s mandate for economic stimulation, inclusivity, and better access for all by encouraging Johannesburg’s visitors and residents to immerse themselves in the capital’s rich and layered cultural offerings until it becomes a part of their everyday life.

“Parallel to being a blue-chip survey of contemporary African art, FNB Art Joburg prides itself in its year-long support of various facets in the ecosystem. In maintaining this attentive, nurturing culture we have also been able to fulfill our aim for economic stimulation, inclusivity, and access for all with 16+ days of culture through Open City,” says Mandla Sibeko, Managing Director of FNB Art Joburg. “All together, we hope to continue the work of facilitating a consistent, accessible, considered and reputable offering that will continue to propel us into the future.”

In addition to the 17th edition of FNB Art Joburg, taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre, other highlights on the Open City programme include:

– Open Studios at Bag Factory and Ellis House 

– Red Bus Art Experience with Thabo the Tourist in Jozi

– The opening of Goodman Gallery X blank projects: alluvium

– Educational art talks presented by the Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize 

– The opening of Amadoda on the verge… by Athi Patra-Ruga at BKhz

– The Warm Up with Exhibition Match x Company Culture, with a special performance by Mzambiya 

Main Image: FNB