Rosebank walkabout marks the first step towards vibrant mural festival
A stroll through Rosebank has set the stage for a mural project that could transform the area into a living art gallery.
The pavements of Rosebank came alive on August 15, as organisers behind the Africa Walls project took to the streets of Rosebank for a focused walkabout – a behind-the-scenes tour to identify potential mural sites for an upcoming art initiative.
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World Wide Walls is a global platform dedicated to street art and murals, connecting artists, organising events, and fostering creative communities. The organisation is known for curating exhibitions, workshops, and festivals that celebrate public art and encourage local engagement.
Starting at the Radisson Red Hotel, the group meandered through The Zone @ Rosebank and surrounding streets, pausing to consider blank walls and hidden corners as potential canvases for a mural project that aims to celebrate local creativity.
According to project co-ordinator Karabo Mokoena, the walkabout was an opportunity to see the area through the eyes of the artists who may soon transform it. “We wanted to bring people into the space, to imagine what it could become. Rosebank has an incredible energy, and the murals will only add to that.”
The project’s first mural is planned for September, with the work carried out by a local artist. Mokoena explained that funding remains a key focus, as the budget needs to cover artist fees, accommodation, transport, and community activations, but the walkabout is only the beginning. Mokoena shared that a larger World Wide Walls Festival is scheduled for November 3 to 16.
The event hopes to bring together around 25 artists, although travel costs may influence final numbers. The festival will blend large-scale murals with art forms that integrate seamlessly into the urban environment.
“We want this to be more than just an art festival,” Mokoena said. “It’s about creating a lasting cultural footprint in the neighbourhood, something that locals and visitors can enjoy long after the paint has dried.”
If all goes to plan, Rosebank’s streets could soon become an open-air gallery, where walls tell stories and colour brings the community together.
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