Sundowners and music in the CITY! Join us on the roof of August House for a Contra.Joburg after party.

We’ll have a fantastic DJ, mouth-watering food, and refreshing drinks available for purchase. It’s the perfect place to relax, socialize, and keep the celebration going.

If you have already got a Contra.Joburg ticket, then you are welcome to join the party for FREE. If you are not coming to Contra.Joburg, you can join us just for the party.

Tickets are R50. Booking is required.

You're invited to join the panel discussion, "Custodians of the Inner City: The Role of Creatives and Creative Interventions," happening at 12:30pm – 1:30pm on Sunday, May 26th, at Victoria Yards. This event explores the role of creative and innovative thinking in addressing the complex social and economic issues in Johannesburg's inner city.

Jozi, with its rich cultural diversity, faces unique urban challenges. However, creative thinkers and innovative projects are leading the way in transforming the cityscape. The panel aims to dive into the roles of artists, designers, and other creatives in tackling these challenges, showcasing inspiring stories of collaboration and breakthrough solutions.

We've assembled a group of esteemed panellists who bring diverse perspectives to the discussion:

- Robbie Brozin from Jozi my Jozi, an advocate for urban renewal through creativity

- Tanya Zack, co-author of “Wake Up,This is Joburg” and planner specialising in urban policy, regeneration, informality and sustainable development.

- Heather Dodd, an architect with extensive experience in urban development

- Mary Corrigal, an acclaimed journalist, and art critic, who will moderate the conversation

This event is FREE. There is no booking required for this activation but space is limited. First come, first serve.

Multifaceted visual artist and musician, Stompie Selibe, will be performing as part of the vibrant Contra.Joburg open studios. Enjoy his unique combination of new-age, indigenous and meditative music as you browse through the wonderful spaces at Victoria Yards.

This activity is FREE. There is no need to book for this event.

Through the Lens Collective is a collaborative educational and developmental photographic space created by South African visual artist and educator Michelle Loukidis, who shares a commitment to, and appreciation of, the photographic medium on the African continent. Through photographic training the collective aims to develop creativity, critical thinking, and professional practice. Photographic practice is undergoing rapid change. What is of paramount importance is personal vision and voice. Through an educational workspace, the collective aims to assist visual artists/photographers in refining their photographic practice, expanding their visual grammar, and developing their narrative skills. In addition, what is of importance is the creation of sustainable structures that support contemporary photographic practice. The courses are aimed at anyone who is passionate about the medium of photography and wishes to use the camera as an expressive tool

This activity is FREE. No booking is required.

"Concrete Cocoon" by Sifiso Mkhabela is the first exhibition in the ‘Deconstructed’ series of month-long, solo exhibitions at Asisebenze Art Atelier.

The show’s title references the way a cocoon nestles a caterpillar, enabling the transformation into the final manifestation as a butterfly. This theme is plain to see in Mkhabela's art that explores the city's history, politics, and culture, and the struggle to thrive in a contemporary African city. But just as a butterfly emerges from a cocoon, so too his works hint at a thread of hope throughout.

Glimpses of the city’s unceasing nature peer at us through the cross-section of mediums he uses in his work. Apart from tying his own identity to the city, Mkhabela poses questions of this city’s own identity, offering soliloquies on how this Afro urban landscape has shifted from what it was to what it is today.

This exhibition represents a profound exploration of the realities of urban African life, all through the personal and intimate lens of Mkhabela's experiences with the city of Johannesburg.

This activity is FREE. No booking is required.

In this new series the artist, Lindo Zwane, investigates the gaze on informal traders, particularly, the working women of Kwa Mai Mai. The artist chooses to focus his attention on how these women navigate cooking on open fires, defying what is traditionally a man's job, to provide for their families in an urban environment where they are publicly scrutinised and simultaneously the subjects of a desensitized type of slum tourism.

With his heavy use of charcoal the artist aims to create a visual archive of the inner workings of Kwa Mai Mai. His focus is not from the perspective of a visitor's experience, but that of a migrant worker, far from home - toiling away in what was once a horse stable in the 1800's. Smothered by smoke, only to be seen by customers but remain unseen by their distant loved ones, they carry the remorse of not having a regular job in oversized aluminium pots and yet serve their customers with pride. Who are these women who masterfully turn their faces every time someone tries to take a picture for social media vibes and what are their stories?

The exhibition titled, INSTIZI YE BHODWE translates to "The pain of the pot" and refers to the residue left on steel pots after being used over open fires. Lindo Zwane has created a series of charcoal drawings that serve as a visual archive of the women who work at Kwa Mai Mai. Through frequent visits and trust built over year of engagement, the artist pays homage to their way of life, which also holds personal significance to him.

Using charcoal against canvas, Lindo portrays the contrasting realities the women face in their working environment. He protects their identities by depicting scenes where thick smoke covers their faces. By including fire, wood, and steel pots in his drawings, he emphasizes how basic household items are used to generate an income in the market. The exhibition comments on social and economic issues like dark tourism, displacement, informal trading and women-led households. The exhibition is a heartfelt tribute to the women who support their families by selling food in the city. It acknowledges their sacrifices and all that remains unknown about them to their customers. It celebrates their dedication to their trade and their resilience in finding success in Johannesburg, known as the city of gold.

This activity is FREE. No booking is required.

This is a child friendly event and as such, Play Africa is providing fun, art related activities for the kids to do. Kids under the age of 18 are free but please make sure that you book a ticket for your children.

This activity is FREE. No booking required.

& We Go Gentle reflects on the tumultuous journey of sustaining an art career and how small breakthroughs in the form of an opportunity, public recognition and sales encourage us to persevere and revel in success as we grow through different seasons. Inspired by a song by Hiatus Kaiyote with the same title, artworks presented in this exhibition tell stories of faith, spiritual enlightenment and harnessing the patience to remind oneself of the importance of finding joy in daily rituals. The journey to success is long and arduous, but the views are sublime.

This activity is FREE. No booking required.

This is a child friendly event and as such, Asisebenze is providing fun, art related activities for the kids to do.

This activity is FREE. No booking is required. You just need your Contra.Joburg ticket.

This is a child friendly event and as such, August House is providing fun, art related activities for the kids to do such as creating their own work, face painting and sushi making.

This activity is FREE. No booking is required. You just need your Contra.Joburg ticket.