Cape Town (15 September 2017) – In just one short week, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town will be opening its doors to the public.
With 6,000 square metres of exhibition space in 80 galleries, a rooftop sculpture garden, a gift shop, a restaurant and bar, and various reading rooms, there’s a lot of ground to cover. So, with thousands of visitors expected, you’ll need to plan carefully if you’re heading there on opening weekend from 22-25 September 2017. Here’s all you need to know.
Have your ticket or membership card on hand
If you missed out on the free tickets via Webtickets, there will be tickets available at the door. Everyone entering the museum will require a ticket and members need to ensure they have their cards and proof of ID to gain entry one hour before the museum opens on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. If you already have tickets, remember that each ticket has a specific date and time on it, so ensure you get there at the correct time.
Be prepared
As with any opening of a public space, there’ll be hundreds of people wanting to get a first look so wear comfortable shoes and take along a bottle of water and snacks as you’ll have to wait in line. There will be a coffee station in the gantry of the museum for opening weekend but no food or drink will be allowed inside the museum itself. only handbags are permitted so leave your rucksacks and day bags behind, or store them in the lockers provided at the entrance to the museum.
Get up to speed
Make sure you grab a map and programme that outlines all the floors and exhibitions and choose the ones you’d like to visit first as you may not have time to wander through the entire building. If you’re unsure of which exhibit to visit first, ask one of the museum team members to direct you to a specific centre that peaks your interest, such as the Centre for the Moving Image or the Centre of Photography.
Ask questions
Once inside, you’ll be overwhelmed by all the art. Not to fear as the Zeitz MOCAA team will be around should you have any questions. While you’re able to get the gist of an exhibition on your own, having someone provide context is invaluable. Plus those questions you’re preparing to type into Google later? One of the friendly museum team members will probably know the answer. The curators and museum team love answering questions on their favourite subject matter so don’t be afraid to ask.
5Buy a memento
Before you head home, consider popping in at the Zeitz MOCAA Shop to buy something that will help you remember your visit on this historic occasion. Whether it’s a coffee table book or a T-shirt, your purchase will not only be a memento to you but will also support the museum to help it stay open and bring new and exciting exhibits for visitors.
Consider a membership
If you loved your visit and definitely plan to return, consider purchasing an annual membership to the museum. You’ll enjoy loads of cool benefits, including unlimited access to the museum, a preferential queue at the entrance on busy days, discounts on selected items and special offers at the Zeitz MOCAA gift shop and restaurant, priority ticketing for special exhibitions, and so much more. Purchase your Zeitz MOCAA Membership here.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Media enquiries:
Emma King
Interim Head of Marketing and Communications
emma.king@zeitzmocaa.museum
+27 (0) 72 010 7704
Lauren Hess
Communications and Marketing Manager
lauren.hess@zeitzmocaa.museum
+27 (0) 79 695 6201
About the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA)
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) is a public not-for-profit contemporary art museum that collects, preserves, researches and exhibits 21st-century art from Africa and its Diaspora; hosts international exhibitions; develops supporting educational and enrichment programmes; encourages intercultural understanding; and guarantees access for all.
More than one hundred galleries, spread over nine floors, are dedicated to a large cutting-edge permanent collection; temporary exhibitions; and Centres for Art Education, Curatorial Excellence, Performative Practice, Photography, the Moving Image, and the Costume Institute.
Zeitz MOCAA was established through a partnership between the V&A Waterfront led by CEO David Green–acting on behalf of Growthpoint Properties Limited and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), represented by the Public Investment Corporation Limited (PIC)–and collector Jochen Zeitz. The building was reimagined through a design by the acclaimed London-based Heatherwick Studio. Mark Coetzee serves as the Executive Director and Chief Curator.
The Zeitz MOCAA board consists of David Green and Jochen Zeitz (Co-chairs), Isaac Julien and Wangechi Mutu (Artist Board Members), Suzanne Ackerman, Jody Allen, Jonathan Bloch, Kate Garwood, Pulane Kingston, Gasant Orrie, Albie Sachs, Anton Taljaard, Roger Ross Williams and Mark Coetzee (Ex Officio).