Culture Connect SA

12/06/2025

Chuffed Culture Connect's harbour tour was in Business Day. Interested in coming: Docks 29 Nov and 17 Jan when the weather is more reliable?

"It’s a fascinating and relaxing sightseeing trip that’s packed with historical information and views of awe-inspiring ships as well as the landmarks that have made the docks what they are, ending with an optional visit to the Ship Society headquarters....

The past and the modern day rub companionable shoulders throughout the tour...

Looking up at huge ships from the vantage point of a smallish launch was exhilarating."

BIG thanks
for the detailed and brilliant feature
for the excellent tour
Waterfront Charters for the boat, Southern Cross
for coming

Kate Crane Briggs

Fascinating sightseeing trip of the docks is packed with historical information and views of awe-inspiring ships

29/05/2025

Conversations with artists and makers give magic to art tours.

We are blessed in Cape Town that such talented and busy creatives open their doors to us.

On Tuesday huge thanks for sharing your time and stories: Chandler House, Spier Arts Trust, Souper Troopers, ,

26/05/2025

Rhodes changed the name back to Groote Schuur, from Manor House. Van Riebeeck is on the sculptural relief above the front door. Inside (no pictures allowed) the is plenty from Holland (eg Delft tiles even on the skirting boards), but also from England. Tapestries are from Belgium, Spanish leatherpaper, Chinese (and Japanese) ceramics - very eclectic and Victorian but the Ardmore Ceramics & Design from the Mbeki era work.

This is the last Culture Connect tour at Groote Schuur for quite a few years as much needed repair is starting to this Herbert Baker designed house (his first major commission).

Thank you brilliant Dr Rayda Becker, curator, and Culture Connectors for coming today and Friday.

Kate Crane Briggs

19/05/2025

Rain didn't put off Grade 11 art students at Rallim House. We had a fun morning exploring their topic - street.

Street art, street cred, street food street wise...Highlights were the art dept in Central Library, Charly's Bakery, the Adderley Street flower market and meeting different characters (eg a boxer and bouncer by Harrington Square).

The teacher and I loved the kids' enthusiasm, as well as sparkle on the clean streets from the rain.✨️ 😊 🎨 🚶‍♂️ 🚶‍♀️ 🚶‍♀️ 🌧.

02/05/2025

Zeitz MOCAA director, Koyo, loves clothes made from natural materials, shoes, Between Us on Bree Street....

The curator of the 2026 Venice Biennale loves whisky sours, Massive Attack and being the ‘high priestess of the okra church’

26/04/2025

Meeting artists was the highlight of yesterday's art tour for two American professors.

At Woodstock's old fire station, the Lab, we were shown round the exhibition by some of them on the Emerging Artists Programme funded by City of Cape Town.

Before that we visited SideTrack Studios hosted by painter Aimee Lindeque.

At Iziko Museums of South Africa we bumped into Sue Williamson in her retrospective and Leah Hawkins who has a show in their Annex and work in the Motherhood exhibition opening next week.

Pictures here are from the Emerging Artists' show.

Kate Crane Briggs

20/04/2025

Nearest we got to church over Easter! De Kalkery drew me with its "all things" chocolate. It was former The Kalk Bay Theatre - Honest Chocolate is now on the mezzanine and ground floor Salt clothing with one of my favs Mami Wata Surf.

Nice to see Martin Kruger's paintings and poetry for sale nearby at Artvark Gallery. And the ceramics shop, by the park, is a gallery once more - architectural artist Bob's whose coffee and bagels are selling very well.

Kate Crane Briggs

15/04/2025

Khoi by the bountiful stream to the ANC and Apartheid first meeting (1990) - lots of history this morning and food for thoughts at Groote Schuur Mansion and Museum, thanks to Dr Rayda Becker's very special tour.

Its architecture and contents are quite something too:

• "Baker Cape" style - it was architect's Herbert Baker's first big job
• Delft tiles as skirting boards and around some of the 14 different fireplaces
• English country house style with Dutch, (Chinese, German, French, Flemish, Javanese...) decorative arts from Rhodes' era, then Afrikaans taste in furnishings
• Bookcase full of typed translated and bound Classics from London and a collection of fascinating maps
• Dolmetsch Beethoven piano - very rare
• Silver s***f boxes given to Rhodes as presents by, I think she said, Boar guests

I could go on and on.

As it is a presidential estate, no photography is allowed inside.

Comment if you are interested in Dr Becker's final Culture Connect tour mid/end of May 2024. Groote Schuur will then be closed for several years for much needed repairs.

Afterwards a few of us went for a quick lunch at the Picnic Cafe and Deli, under the trees at the Montebello Design Centre.

11/04/2025

The complex forms of nature, D H Lawrence, living our own life (not others), the gift is in the wound, Rumi, using foam for large sculpture...Dylan Lewis gave us lots to think about during his phenomenal tour of his beautiful garden today.

Big thanks Dylan, your wonderful team and Culture Connectors for coming. One to remember and relish.

Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden

09/04/2025

Rare opportunity: Groote Schuur Mansion Museum, next Tuesday 10am to 11h30/noon, with curator Dr Rayda Becker.

Designed by Herbert Baker for Cecil John Rhodes, the budget was huge. Much of the architecture and contents are original.

It is tucked away in Rondebosch on the President's estate so ID numbers are needed 48 hours in advance. R450 per person. Book with me: [email protected] 072 377 8014 Comment or DM

Tuesday 15 April 2025
10am to noon
Groote Schuur, Klipper Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town

This Culture Connect is worth skipping work for! I don't know when the next one will be.

07/04/2025

Poignant, thought-provoking, informative, enjoyable - our Culture Connect in Athlone on Saturday.

Our guide, Tony Hartman, shared his memories of growing up here during 1980s Apartheid:
• Arriving home from school and an armoured personel carrier (casspir) was in front of house
• The tear gas from the Trojan Horse massacre was blown to his, the otherside, of Athlone
• Robbie Waterwitch who died when a bomb he was carrying exploded, Tony was on greeting terms with - they lived near each other. Nobody, not even Robbie's family, knew he was involved in the armed Struggle

Tony's grandfather was a mate of Rashaad Pandy, who many credit as inventing the Gatsby sandwich. He told a Culture Connector that initially they were round, like the trilby hats worn in the film. As they were hard to cut and share, they became oblong!

The next Althlone tour will be in the summer. Interested? (Tony can do it as a private tour, too.)

Soni Art Studio

01/04/2025

Join us this Saturday in Athlone for an unusual, enjoyable tour - apartheid history, food, calligraphy and community. It is led by tourist guide, Tony Hartman, Athlone born and bred, 10am to noon. Struggle monuments, art studio, childhood memories, bravery and change.

R300 per person pre-pay. Option of a homemade curry and rice, with carrot cake and tea afterwards (cost tbc) by caterer Tasneem Hendricks in her house.

Book with me: [email protected] 072 377 8014 Comment or DM