First Thursdays Johannesburg

About First Thursdays Johannesburg

First Thursdays, the art walk that is so successful in Cape Town, London and other parts of the world, also happens in Johannesburg. But, of course, in Jozi it has a life of its own.

Art galleries and other cultural attractions (with the main emphasis on art) in Braamfontein, Maboneng and Rosebank stay open late on the first Thursday of every month. The main emphasis is on exploring the streets of the city on foot, in a way that you would not usually.

According to gallery owners participating in the event, First Thursdays succeeds in attracting those people who don't usually visit art galleries. A lot of this has to to do with the sociable aspect to the event.

Not only is it a chance to explore art galleries, but the restaurants, pubs and fashion boutiques in the area remain open as well. This varies from month to month (every Thursday is different, in other words), but on the whole, it is a chance to hit the streets after work and experience them differently from during the day.

The format for the evening is

(Pick up a map at one of the art galleries), plan which events you'd like to attend (you probably won't have time for all of them) by browsing the highlights on First Thursday's website, put on a comfortable pair of shoes, and head to Rosebank, Maboneng or Braamfontein.

Each of the precincts enjoys their own highlights.

A few of these include:
Rosebank: Circa, Gallery MOMO, David Krut Projects, Gallery 2
Maboneng: SoMa Art Space, End Street Studios, AGOG, The Bioscope, iwasshot in joburg
Braamfontein: Wits Art Museum, Constitution Hill, Kalashnikovv Gallery, The Point of Order

The First Thursdays movement started in London to make art galleries and museums more accessible to the public. First Thursdays Johannesburg was orchestrated by Gareth Pearson, the man behind First Thursdays, Cape Town.