ASSOCIATION OF ARTS PRETORIA

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

The Magic of Mackie Street - the street where art lives

Bond Street, London and 5th Avenue, New York, amongst others are associated with famous landmarks. Mackie Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk is famous in Pretoria because it is associated with the Association of Arts, the gallery where art lives! The gallery is abuzz with innovative ideas to keep the arts alive. VISUAL ART is our core business. The Association of Arts has come a long way in promoting the enjoyment of the visual arts in all its forms. It does so by using funds generated by its own activities. The Pretoria Arts Association was established more than 50 years ago and acquired an uncontested place in the art life of Pretoria, the Gauteng Province and in the whole country. In its beautiful art gallery, bordering on the picturesque Austin Roberts bird sanctuary, art exhibitions as well as many other art events and activities are held during the whole year. Thousands of art lovers visit the gallery each year. The Arts Association is dedicated to maintain the highest standards and to strive for excellence. It constantly tries to encourage innovation and exploit new talents in all the fields of the visual arts.

Visit us and see for yourselves !

Vision

The Association of Arts strives to promote and develop all aspects of the visual arts in an effective and integrated manner.

Mission

We are in the business of giving artists the opportunity of presenting their work to the public, of fostering awareness of the visual arts among the population as a whole by means of various projects and of creating the opportunity for artists to develop their skills.

A brief history

The S A Association of Arts was founded as the S A Fine Arts Association in Cape Town in 1871. The Southern Transvaal Branch was established in July 1947 and the Northern Transvaal Branch was formed in Pretoria on September 27 of the same year. The moving spirit behind the establishment of the Arts Association and its various branches was Mr Charles te Water, who also became its first president.

During those early years much assistance was given by the Pretoria Technical College. It assisted by providing free office and exhibition space. The first chairperson to be elected was Walter Batiss and the second chairperson of the branch was Prof J P Duminy. It was during his period of tenure that premises were obtained in the Libri Building from Mr J van Schaik, Snr.

The next gallery was the D S Vorster Gallery (1957) which was obtained by Dr A J van Zyl, who succeeded Prof Duminy as chairperson. The gallery was situated in the basement of D S Vorster's shop in the Tsolas Building in Andries Street, now the site of Sanlam Centre. In 1959 when the shop was moved to Polley's Arcade, the Association moved with it.

When Mr Justice J F Marais became chairperson in October 1959, a new era opened for the Pretoria Branch of the S A Association of Arts. He took the major step of obtaining magnificent premises for the Association in Polley's Arcade (1961). The Association now had a gallery in the true sense of the word. During those early years the vice-chairperson was Prof At Meiring who was also the National President and together he and Judge Kowie Marais moulded the Pretoria Branch into the most prestigious branch in the country.

When the Provincial Administration offered the Old Netherlands Bank Building to the Association in 1963 the gallery was moved once again. The banking hall became a fine gallery with a dignity and an atmosphere all of its own. In this venue the Association had three galleries, namely the large Main Gallery, the Atelier Gallery on the ground floor, and the Upper Gallery on the first floor.

When Judge Marais became National President in 1975 he persuaded Mr Justice C F Eloff to take over the chairmanship. It was due to Judge Eloff and the generosity of Volkskas that the Association could occupy the magnificent gallery on the 36th floor of the Volkskas Building since 1978. On 30 July 1984 the gallery was moved to the 37th floor to an even larger gallery, the pride of the Association of Arts. The year 1991 heralded the move to Mackie Street and the Association's own building with Dr Piet Muller as chairperson.

Exhibitions

Apart from regular exhibitions in the gallery, the Association of Arts Pretoria, hosts several competitions such as the Sasol New Signatures competition, the prestigious ABSA Atelier competition and the PPC Cement Young Concrete Sculptor awards aimed at young sculptors. The various competitions take place annually and are well publicised beforehand to encourage young, aspiring and established artists to participate. We are in the unique position to create a congenial platform for artists and art lovers to meet on common ground.

On line sale of paintings

For the best buy in contemporary South African art, make your choice from the following paintings for sale at the Association of Arts or visit the Mackie Street gallery also for original gifts. On request the Association of Arts will make a special effort to trace and locate artworks with investment value for interested buyers. Furthermore, the Association acts as an agent for artists’ country-wide.