Different
is good
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August 2025
An immersive 2 day
visual arts experience
Meet the Artists
〰️
See the Work
〰️
Start a conversation
〰️
Meet the Artists 〰️ See the Work 〰️ Start a conversation 〰️
Venues
Saturday 29 August
10:00 to 17:00
Bag Factory Artists’ Studios
Located at 10 Mahlathini Street, Newtown, this is one of the older studio spaces in the city, having been founded in 1991.
Asisebenze Art Gallery
Located at 34 Loveday St, Joburg CDB, this is a brand new art gallery located in the newly renovated Aegis Building. This gallery will be presenting the best contemporary artists the City has to offer.
Asisebenze Art Atelier
Asisebenze Art Atelier is a gallery space, artist studios and art dealership in the heart of the Johannesburg inner city, located at 28 Plein Street. Since 2021, AAA has holistically embraced its environment & the cosmopolitan identity which accompany it.
Little Artists School Project
Founded in 1995 by South African artist Edward Selematsela, the Little Artists School Project is a Johannesburg-based community art school that uses creativity to nurture, mentor and open opportunities for young people from under-resourced backgrounds. During Contra.Joburg, they will showcase their teacher’s artworks in an exhibition and provide a kids area.
Play Braamfontein
Play Braamfontein comprises of many different spaces in Braamfontein but for the sake of this event, there is a focus on a series of studio spaces.
Rand Club
The Rand Club is the city's most enduring social institution and finest heritage venue. Located in Loveday Street, Marshalltown, come and experience a “members-only” experience.
The Bus Factory
The Bus Factory is a historic facility originally built in 1926 as a tram shed . It later served as a repair garage and a trolleybus and car depot as well as a maintenance facility for double decker buses before being fully renovated into modern offices and creative spaces in the 2000’s.
Jozi Gold
Jozi Gold Brewing Company is a family-run Braamfontein brewery, restaurant and creative venue bringing together craft beer, food, live music, comedy and visual art in the heart of Johannesburg. The idea behind Jozi Gold dates back to 2013, when the Jardine family registered the trademark, with the venue officially opening at 81 De Korte Street in March 2026.
STEPHAN WELZ & CO
Continuing our partnership with Stephan Welz & Co, we present a contemporary art auction - a dual physical and digital exhibition that celebrates the immense talent contained within Johannesburg. SUGGESTION: Park at their offices in Waverley, see the exhibition and shuttle into your next Contra venue.
Creative Uprising Hub @Transwerke
Check out this vibrant creative hub at Constitution Hill Precinct! Here, creative practitioners and professionals thrive, inviting visitors to dive into studios buzzing with innovation across all creative domains.
Venues
Sunday 30 August
10:00 to 17:00
August House - The artists playground
Located at 76 End Street, Doornfontein, this is the largest studio space in Johannesburg. Studio and residency artists will open their studios to the public.
Ellis House
Located at 23 Voorhout Street and nestled between the iconic landmarks of Ellis Park and Troyeville Hotel in the inner-city neighbourhood of New Doornfontein. Ellis House Art Studios houses an eclectic mix of emerging and established artists.
Usha Seejarim’s Studio
As a first at Contra.Joburg famous public artist Usha Seejarim will open her studio to the public. You have seen her wings outside of the Radisson Red - come and see where they are made!
Living Artists Emporium
This organisation supports grassroots emerging artists while facilitating the sales of their work to corporate and private buyers. LAE as it is more fondly known is located at the Ellis Part Tennis Courts.
Victoria Yards
This uniquely integrated urban complex, located at 16 Viljoen Street, is as much about art and design as it is social development.
STEPHAN WELZ & CO
Continuing our partnership with Stephan Welz & Co, we present a contemporary art auction - a dual physical and digital exhibition that celebrates the immense talent contained within Johannesburg. SUGGESTION: Park at their offices in Waverley, see the exhibition and shuttle into your next Contra venue.
How does this event work?
The event takes place over 2 days. Each day is different. Look below to see what venues are on what days.
Each day has a different ticket. For more information on tickets, check out this page.
When buying a ticket, select the venues you wish to visit.
You can start at any of the venues. There is no right or wrong order.
A hop-on-hop-off shuttle bus will come every 20 minutes OR you can use an e-hailing service to move directly to your next chosen venue.
Kids under 18 are free but no unaccompanied minors will be let into venues or on shuttles.
There will be additional paid for activities that you would need to book for separately if you wanted to attend. These tickets can not be bought on the day.
A big shout out!
It all begins with an idea, an idea that you speak to people about but without the support of those people who share our vision, none of this would be possible. We would like to gratefully thank our sponsors and partners for walking this journey with us. 
