I arrived in Cape Town on an ordinary February day. Sunny, gentle wind, with no clouds in sight, yet everything felt remarkable. Having an unwavering adoration for Modern and Contemporary Black art, interning in Cape Town was a lofty dream; nevertheless, it happened.

With assistance from Programme Director Tom Trevor, Professor Rory Bester, and the Turing Scheme, I spent six transformative weeks at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) & University of the Western Cape (UWC) Museum Fellowship Programme. I attended weekly curatorship seminars and undertook three placements: UWC-Robben Island Museum-Mayibuye Archives, Art School Africa, and studio assistant to Jo Ractliffe, photographer. This internship profoundly shaped my understanding of the curatorial practice, emphasizing the differing ways the Global North and Global South engage audiences.

The Dive into Cape Town's Art Scene

In February, the art scene is active. Upon my arrival, triennial openings, gallery previews, and various art talks were scheduled throughout the city.

Captivated by the first two weeks of glamour, visiting everywhere from the Iziko Slave Lodge to the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Africa's largest art fair, I overlooked the looming chaos. Each institution connected the intricacies of the city’s arts & culture and the history of South Africa and Cape Town, not exclusively apartheid-related.

Weekly Curatorship Classes

The course accentuated the efforts organizations in Africa must undertake to reshape curating within their communities. In the Global South, thoughts rousing conventional curatorial practices is crucial as the resources and access to art contrast the Global North. My MA Curation programme provided the curatorial rulebook, and my time at UWC sparked an urge to break these rules. Not simply for the sake of rebellion, but to make art spaces more radical, ensuring that an exhibition is just as impactful for someone not familiar with the arts as it is for an art practitioner.

A Brief Snapshot into Placements

Placement 2: Art School Africa

Art School Africa is “dedicated to empowering individuals across the African continent to kickstart or advance their careers in the art industry.” I was responsible for gathering media contacts and developing a press kit. My previous roles facilitated the preparation of a media database and components of a press kit. At the end of my time, I had produced a branded press kit template with modifiable text and a media database with over 30 media personnel.

Bringing Cape Town to Home Grounds

In Cape Town, I met Michelle Sank, the photographer for my co-curated curatorial project, Elsewhere(s) Burnthouse Lane. Born in Cape Town and residing in Exeter, her portraits subtly reveal ways culture shapes us and we shape it. From our first conversation, our connection grew as she and our team worked to develop the upcoming exhibition.

With our exhibition being the third iteration of Exeter's Burnthouse Lane Estate, my objective was to lean into the Global South ideals around curatorship. We gathered research from the Wonford Community and Learning Centre’s 2024 Voices of The Lane and Beyond — an exhibition celebrating community strength in Wonford and St Loyes. We experienced a blend of interviews and photographs that allowed residents to share positives in the community and suggest changes, captured by Sank. Combining the 2020 Burnthouse Lane collection with select portraits and audio from Voices of The Lane and Beyond, our exhibition explored the concept of ‘home’ amid a period of migration and cultural change.

Contextually, our exhibition included voices from various classes, ethnicities, genders, spaces, and viewpoints. Visually, we sought a layout that diverged from traditional photography displays similar to Sabelo Mlangeni’s Honeymoon. The happily ever after? at blank. In tandem with embracing the site and our collaboration with the community centre, the feedback from our exhibition made a multisensory impact on art practitioners and guests unfamiliar with the arts.

Unveiling A New Direction

My six weeks in Cape Town served as a journey of introspection and growth. Rather than succumb to the premature emotions of forlornness or stress, I chose to embrace what was being offered, which ultimately led to clarity and resilience.

Through the cracks of the internships infrastructure, invaluable lessons blossomed. Acknowledging my vulnerabilities not as hurdles but as essential stepping stones was the catalyst of my personal and professional metamorphosis, enhancing my ability to curate, deepening my understanding of the local culture and African history, and connecting to both the Global North and South.

Once a zealous dream turned reality, I believed I had a grasp on the art world, but Cape Town dilated my vision. The combined knowledge extends beyond techniques and skills; it bridges narratives with a distinctive lens bound to resonate and enrich my future endeavours and artistic pursuits. I am beholden to everyone who played a role in creating and contributing to this experience.

P.S. Remember, every great achievement starts with a single step fuelled by ambition—be delusional and dream big!