Amble the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch and it’s hard to miss the bold green totems dotted around town, inviting passers-by to explore and admire several free exhibitions of Africa’s finest contemporary art. An ambitious undertaking and the first of its kind on South African soil, the Stellenbosch Triennale is a non-commercial, multi-disciplinary art platform focusing on accessibility, development and the democratisation of art in Africa.
An innovation of non-profit organization, Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust, the Triennale’s theme, ‘Tomorrow There Will Be More of Us’ looks to the past, present and future. It focuses on how we choose to define the stories of our past in the present and employ them to form our future.
Chief curator and renowned artist Khanyisile Mbongwa says: “My vision for the Stellenbosch Triennale is to foster a critical space for an eco-system of transformation and transition, using art as a lens, a course correction, a stimulus for curiosity and imagination where creatives confront us with what is possible for renewal to happen.” Support for the arts remains at the heart of Stonehage Fleming’s own philanthropic strategy. Its association with the Norval Foundation in Cape Town as a founding patron reflects the firm’s mission to support a sustainable centre for art and cultural expression from South Africa and beyond.
“At Stonehage Fleming, we are passionate about promoting excellence in the arts and are proud to be associated with the inaugural Stellenbosch Triennale. One of our key goals is to help our clients define a purpose for their wealth, now and for future generations,” says Johan van Zyl, CEO, South Africa.
“In a world where the economic divide is widening, we find that families with means are increasingly considering how to use their wealth for the benefit of society. Identifying a philanthropic strategy is an important step in this process. The Stellenbosch Triennale focuses on minimising the socio-economic and socio-cultural gaps that exist in the art world through skills sharing and mentoring,” says Johan.
The Stellenbosch Triennale runs from 11th February to 30th April 2020 across several venues within or close to under-resourced communities around Stellenbosch. For full programme details, visit: www.stellenboschtriennale.com
[1] Stellenbosch Triennale (Nov 2019): https://stellenboschtriennale.com/stellenbosch-triennale-africa-is-now/