First Thursdays Cape Town

About First Thursdays Cape Town

When you visit Cape Town, you are invited to join " First Thursdays". On the first Thursday of every month you are invited to explore art galleries and cultural attractions in Cape Town.

First Thursdays is a free event (the galleries, events and restaurants pay a fee to join the route). However, there is no official tour, route, or guided walk. You plan which exhibitions, performances and locations to visit (pick up a map at participating venues).

Anyone can attend. And everything around the central city stays open until 9pm, or sometimes later, so that all can explore the city on foot and experience the wealth of culture the city has on offer.

It is a good idea to have a plan before you go. The emphasis is on art (roughly 35 galleries, but it varies as to which choose to stay open), although shops and restaurants are open too.

The main emphasis is on walking the streets of Cape Town (reclaiming the streets) so as to change the concept people have of the CBD. The Cape Town movement takes place between Wale and Strand streets, including Cape Town's fashionable Bree Street.

The First Thursdays movement started in London in a bid to make art galleries and museums more accessible to the public. This event, which encourages art galleries to open their doors for free until 9pm at night, has taken off all over the world as a result of its success. (see First Thursdays Johannesburg).

Highlights include

The Book Lounge on Roeland Street, Michaelis Galleries at the Hiddingh Campus on Orange Street, Gallery MOMO, Friends of Design and the Ministry of Economic Opportunities.

First Thursdays Cape Town was orchestrated by Gareth Pearson (also behind TEDx Stellenbosch, the cycling campaign, and the 'urban intervention' East City Alley) who experienced the idea in Zurich when he was there.