Goethe-Institut closes projects space in Johannesburg

The gallery space, which was located in Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg, provided a platform for both established and up-and-coming artists to independently develop and promote their experimental projects.

Since May 2009 the space hosted numerous exhibitions, workshops and performances, covering music, dance, visual art, literature, film and theatre projects.  

GoetheOnMain will be replaced by a new project called the Goethe-Institut Project Space (GPS) which will kick off in 2017. Unlike GoetheOnMain, GPS will support work realised all over South Africa and will provide an opportunity for artists to work in different venues across the country.

GPS carries forward GoetheOnMain’s idea of a multi-disciplinary space for artistic experimentation, while widening the scope on work realized all over South Africa.

Similarly to GoetheOnMain, a public call for proposals is presided over by an independent jury of arts professionals, who make the selection for GPS projects. The jury is made up of Doung Anwar Jahangeer, Yvette Hardie, Molemo Moiloa and Sello Pesa.

Application deadline for GPS 2017 projects was on 15 October this year.

Norbert Spitz, Director of the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, said: “GoetheOnMain allowed us to explore things that would not have been possible otherwise – and it sometimes forced artists to rethink their own practice. Not only because of the physical possibilities and limits the space came with, but also because of its geographic location and audience.”

“The Maboneng Precinct has become a brand on its own, and we hope that it will continue to be a space where artistic endeavors can take place to make bold statements and ask relevant questions. At the Goethe-Institut, we are excited to expand our activities beyond Gauteng, and into different provinces of the country, through our new initiative Goethe-Institut Project Space (GPS),” he added.

 Jonathan Liebmann, Founder and CEO of Propertuity, said: “GoetheOnMain was one of the pioneering tenants to take space in Maboneng in its early years. It has always brought a diverse range of engaging events to the neighborhood and we are very appreciative for the role it has played in the regeneration of Maboneng. We are sad to see GoetheOnMain leaving but at the same time we are happy to see the William Kentridge studio expanding into this space.”