The Association of Arts Pretoria turns 75 on September 27 this year and will celebrate this milestone with a series of exhibitions looking back and looking forward.

The association has exhibited many established and early career artists for three-quarters of a century, from pottery, fine art, sculpture and even music.

There are “literally too many to name” when it comes to the careers the association has been a part of.

Earlier this year, the association exhibited some works of Gunther van Reis and Mike Edwards in April, and Isa Steynberg (the daughter of the late Coert Steynberg) and Kieries/Walking Sticks in May.

In celebration of their three-quarter century, the gallery in Mackie Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, has exhibited works from past exhibitions by artists between the ages of 20 and 40 years from July 29 to August 20.

Currently, artists between the ages of 40 and 60 years from September 2 to 23 are being exhibited, and from September 30 to October 22, artists 60 and over will be exhibited.

The association also hosts Sunday morning music recitals in the gallery. These recitals want to allow attendees to experience art music while being surrounded by the visual arts.

One of the most exciting projects driven by the Pretoria Arts Association is the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition (sponsored by Sasol since 1990). This competition is South Africa’s longest-running art competition that aims to create a platform for new and undiscovered artists to kick-start their careers.

In July 1947, the Southern Transvaal branch of the Fine Arts Association of South Africa was started in Johannesburg and later that year, on September 27, the Northern Transvaal branch was formed in Pretoria. In 1997 it was renamed the Association of Arts Pretoria.

In its early years, it was well supported and assisted by the Pretoria Technical College (Tshwane University of Technology). Before it had its final home in the current gallery on Mackie Street, it moved between a few venues.

Walter Battiss was the association’s very first chairman and the cornerstone of the current Mackie Street gallery was designed by renowned potter Esias Bosch and revealed in November 1990. The association moved into the gallery in 1991 and its inauguration was on May 30, 1991.

The list of the association’s exhibitors covers all the country’s foremost as well as lesser-known painters and sculptors. Read also Irene-Louise van Wyk nominated for two Pretoria FM Aitsa awards

The Pretoria Arts Association aims to house at least 30 exhibitions per year, whether pottery, sculpture, painting or experimental. The venue is also used for book launches and the staff work on the evaluation of art.

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