Contemporary Art Museum Opens in Cape Town

The world’s largest museum dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora opened Sept. 22, in Cape Town.

Located in the repurposed Grain Silo complex at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is expected to make the region one of the leading art destinations on the African continent, filling “a critical gap in the continent’s art scene,” according to Kofi Annan, a Zeitz MOCAA patron.

The museum boasts more than 60,000 square feet of exhibition space in 100 galleries, a rooftop sculpture garden, state-of-the-art conservation areas, bookshop, reading rooms and restaurant and bar.

Art is an integral aspect of African culture, and the new museum offers visitors an immersive experience, opening their eyes to the rich cultural landscape of the region and the continent.

Not only does the museum diversify tourism and offer world-class exhibits for visitors, it creates a platform for talented artists across Africa. It will house a Costume Institute and centers for practicing arts like photography, theater and costume design, offering an outlet for local artists across several mediums.

Visitors enjoy thought-provoking, awe-inspiring exhibits like “Harvest” by Michele Mathison, capturing humanity’s dependence on land, traditions of crop cultivation, the value of labor and the spiritual significance of nature; and “Now and Then” by El Loko and Kyle Morland, introducing an intergenerational dialogue between a historic artist and a young artist.

The museum is open Wednesday–Sunday (closed Tuesday), including public holidays. Entry is free for African citizens and anyone under age 18, and half price every first Friday of the month 4–9 p.m. Annual memberships are available.