Maboneng Township Arts Experience

About Maboneng Township Arts Experience

The Maboneng Township Arts Experience is a fascinating initiative that is aimed at showcasing local artists and crafters to the world. This has been accomplished in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, and continues to see growth and success as locals and visitors from around the world get to experience the multifaceted talent of Africa.

This is a non-profit social entrepreneurship project, based in Observatory, that works with families and artists in the townships (informal settlements) of Cape Town and its surrounds. This work involves turning the homes of these artists into museums and galleries to exhibit their own work. These gallery homes are then made accessible to tourists or local art enthusiasts that want to broaden their horizons; experiencing South African art and meeting the artists that made them.

In addition, this creates business opportunities for the experienced guides that conduct the tours, the cooks, the security personnel and the families that they have. To date, there are over 100 home galleries across South Africa that are registered with The Maboneng Township Arts Experience.

This is a township tour with a difference, and invites visitors into vibrant settlements like Gugulethu and Langa to see the culture and way of life that is the norm for millions of South Africans. The walking tour includes local heritage sites, art and craft centres, and impressive graffiti routes that speak of a modern generation with something to say.

For those who want to get even more out of their time here, there are one-on-one art workshops that are conducted from home. Alternatively, opt for a dance or drumming workshop to improve your own sense of creativity. There are also two- and three-day experiences that showcase even more galleries from a variety of townships, experiencing the colourful mosaic of this country and its people. Of course, delicious traditional meals are par for the course on these awesome experiences.

The Maboneng Township Arts Experience has won a number of awards in recognition of their work. These include being awarded the top of the 32 public art programmes in the world in China (at the International Public Arts Awards) and the Global Fine Art award at the Global Fine Art Awards in Miami.