The Javett Art Centre

About The Javett Art Centre

Staying overnight in Pretoria gives visitors so many opportunities to experience the culture and beauty of South Africa. The University of Pretoria has been dubbed the home of African art, making it the fitting home of the Javett Art Centre. This is one fantastic spot to see and appreciate unique pieces and progressive exhibitions.

The Javett-UP opened in September 2019 and invites visitors to explore the art, engage with it, let it touch them, and even create it. It is more than a gallery; it's a place where people are invited to delve into themselves and explore parts of the minds and creative subconscious that they may never have entertained before.

Javett-UP launched with four moving exhibitions that included incredible collections of gold pieces from Mapungubwe as well as over 350 gold items from West Africa. The art on display comprises a variety of pieces from the Javett Foundation and from the University of Pretoria. Together, these two entities share a passion for making art accessible to the public and a commitment to focussing on its ability to educate. And, because Africa is a place where art has been part of the culture and history for centuries, it is the logical inspiration for celebrating the power of creativity.

Guided tours are available for those that want to get the most out of these one-of-a-kind pieces and need to be booked at least 48 hours in advance. School groups, pensioners and children get discounted rates and there will be free entry on certain public holidays. For culture vultures that just can't get enough, Pretoria boasts other are galleries, markets and craft stores to add to your itinerary.