The WAM, previously known as the Wits Art Galleries, will be situated at University Corner, on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Jorissen Street in Braamfontein, on the boundary between Wits and the city of Johannesburg.
Thanks to generous private sector funding, construction commenced at University Corner to implement phase 1 of the WAM and upon completion the Museum will open its doors to the public early next year.
Many challenges have been overcome to bring this project to this stage. Importantly, R38.5 million has been raised to construct phase one, which includes the new gallery space over several floors of University Corner and Lawson's Building. Public access will be enabled from the converted Shell garage at the corner of Jorissen Street and Jan Smuts Avenue. Future phases will depend on continued progress to raise the additional funding for display furnishing and equipment, the upgrade of the facade and foyer, and expansion of the Art and Culture precinct.
"I would like to extend my appreciation to the many generous individuals who have contributed to this cause. The collections provide a powerful basis for offering the public an unrivalled experience of African art. Wits has prioritised the need to optimise the experience through the establishment of the Wits Art Museum, and in particular to achieve the vision of contributing to a common sense of nationhood through art," said Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Loyiso Nongxa.
The university has allocated 5000 square metres to the museum and, following a national competition, appointed a design team to turn the designated area into a world-class museum. Upon completion, the museum will have six world-class exhibition areas, research and teaching facilities, museum storage facilities, prime ancillary and commercial event spaced, and administrative and support facilities.
Wits was the first in South Africa to collect African art objects not merely for their ethnographic interest, but, more importantly, for their aesthetic value. Wits was likewise the first in South Africa to include African art in the teaching programme in 1977.
Donor support will be acknowledged through a range of mechanisms, including the possibility of naming rights to collections and the various museum spaces. WAM will ensure that all contributions are properly recognised and acknowledged in a respectful and considered way and aims to honour those contributors whose valued support will ensure a cultural legacy will be secured for future generations. To see how you can make a donation of for other ways of support, click here
http://web.wits.ac.za/PlacesOfInterest/WAM/home.htm.
