The notion of public space will be in the spotlight as a public discussion unfolds around an event programme of talks, debate and performance, hosted at Zeitz MOCAA and V&A Waterfront’s Silo District.
#FREESPACE will offer a South African and international audience the opportunity to discuss and engage with the concept of space as a resource and space as a binding medium between people; from a cultural, architectural, urban and personal perspective.
The public events are free to attend but online pre-booking is required. The programme takes place at the Zeitz MOCAA and V&A Silo District on weekends and during early evenings in the week.
FREESPACE is a project of INSTINCT, undertaken for V&A Waterfront, in partnership with Zeitz MOCAA and the African Centre for Cities at UCT, with additional support of various donors.
Programme:
Panel Discussion: Where is my space?
Date: Thursday, 16 January 2019, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Scheryn Arena Collection, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA.
About: A range of private developments in Cape Town have provided a number of surprisingly effective and well-used public spaces over the last decade. Has this been undertaken out of necessity or to commercialise the surrounding developments? What is being done by the city-state to provide for inclusive public spaces and what is the responsibility of both parties in adding to the urban realm?
Panel Discussion and Photographic exhibition: Follow the Chicken
Date: Saturday, 19 January 2019, 3 – 4 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Scheryn Arena Collection, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA.
About: Food security is a key challenge in African urban explosion. The chicken represents an emblematic symbol which speaks to larger food security networks. The introductory talk will explore the growth and preference of informally sold live chicken to the frozen supermarket offerings in 3 African countries.
Activation: Chicken Run…
Date: Saturday, 19 January 2019, 4:30 – 7 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Free container space and the Yard, Silo District, V&A Waterfront.
About: FREESPACE sundowners and networking event which will focus on local produce.
Panel discussion: New Markets – Now Forms of Exchange
Date: Wednesday, 23 January 2019, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Scheryn Collection Arena, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA.
About: The exploration of emerging economic exchange, leading to opportunities for inclusionary economic progression. This discussion will the ideas related to the transition to an urban community and the link to socio0exchange and commerce, crypto-coin and digital platforms, informality, inclusive progression through creative entrepreneurship.
Public opening: FREESPACE Launch and Keynote Address
Date: Thursday, 24 January 2019, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: BMW Atrium, Zeitz MOCAA.
About: This private opening will reveal the FREESPACE installation, introduction by founding partners and organisers, drinks and canapes. Please note that this is a private opening attended for funding partners, sponsors and selected contributors.
Outdoor Children’s Programme: FREESPACE… Treasure Hunt
Date: Saturday, 26 January 2019, 10:30 – 5:30 a.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: FREESPACE Container Area, Silo District, V&A Waterfront.
About: Children between the ages of 9 and 12 along with their parent/s are invited to join us for a #FREESPACE treasure hunt! Explore the qualities of sharing public space and exposure on spaces for children, safety, equality and cultural dissonance in public space.
Panel discussion: Space and Pluralities of Being
Date: Saturday, 26 January 2019, 3 – 4 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Scheryn Collection Arena, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA.
About: A provocative discussion about identity, equality and cultural dissonance in public space. This session explores evolving African narratives on identity and how this informs the production of public space. It opens a discussion about the subjectivity of placemaking, cultural hybridity and migrancy, and the transcendence of individual identity towards a collective spatial narrative of existence.
Panel discussion: Shared Space – Towards New Collective Living?
Date: Wednesday, 30 January 2019, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Scheryn Collection Arena, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA.
About: In this panel discussion, different perspectives are tabled on the impact and potential of shared living on the urban eco-system.
Panel discussion: Future space
Date: Thursday, 31 January 2019, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
About: How do we envision future free space? What creative design and planning strategies are currently in place and how do we influence and formulate those to enable real change; an effective and pragmatic exploration of placemaking at a strategic level.
Performance: Gender in Space
Date: Saturday, 2 February 2019, 3 – 4 p.m. (Open to public)
Venue: FREE Container area, Silo District, V&A Waterfront.
About: Exposure on gender, equality and cultural dissonance in public space through performance. This is a multi-disciplinary performance piece by a female arts collective which includes video, installation, choreography and music located. This performance will highlight the exposure on gender, equality and cultural dissonance in public space through performance.
Panel discussion: Urban Space: Sexual Health and Desire
Date: Wednesday, 6 February 2019, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Scheryn Collection Arena, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA
About: This session explores how we can come to understand the important interface between the urban environment and the health needs of LGBT groups.
Panel discussion: Venice to Langa…in search of FREESPACE
Date: Thursday, 7 February 2019, 4:30 – 5: 30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
About: The South African Pavilion for Architecture at the Venice Biennale being the worlds leading architectural exhibition that is held every 2 years was not present in 2018. The lack of a South African pavilion in Venice raises the broader question of the role of art and culture in South Africa and what value is placed by society at large on the arts, architecture and the built environment.
Treasure Hunt: FREESPACE
Date: Saturday, 9 February 2019, 10:30 – 11:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: FREE Container area and Silo District, V&A Waterfront.
About: Introducing children to the notion of FREESPACE and diverse historical narratives. This FREESPACE treasure hunt will explore the spatial heritage at the Silo District and V&A Waterfront.
Panel discussion: Places of Remembrance
Date: Saturday, 9 February 2019, 3 – 4 p.m. (Ticketed event)
Venue: Scheryn Collection Arena, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA.
About: Exploration of how the notion of memory and heritage can be celebrated in contemporary placemaking.
Performance: Freeflow
Date: Saturday, 9 February 2019, 4 – 5 p.m. (Open to public)
Venue: FREE Container space, Silo District, V&A Waterfront.
About: Reflections on migrating cultures and exchange. This vibrant performance will take you on a philosophical journey that echoes the myriad of rhythms and voices, perspectives and aspirations that create a pan-African sense of place.
Panel discussion: Future City… Digital City
Date: Wednesday, 13 February 2019, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (Ticketed event)
About: What are the civil liberties and access challenges in the African city of tomorrow? As society progresses towards a digital culture and the environment towards destruction, what are the benefits of the digital era in addressing the challenges of FREESPACE in our cities?
Panel discussion and Exhibition: Touching the Ephemeral
Date: Thursday, 14 February 2019, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Venue: Scheryn Collection Arena, level 0, Zeitz MOCAA. (Ticketed event)
About: The role of ephemeral art practice in an emerging African context.
Performance: New places of memory – closing performance
Date: Sunday, 17 February 2019, 3 – 4 p.m. (Open to public)
Venue: FREE Container space, Silo District, V&A Waterfront.
Performance by: Handspring Puppet Company.
About: This performance will explore contemporary spaces of meaning and commemoration. it will also explore Temporal evocations of place and memory, exploring space as a metaphor for imaginary futures.