Art Galleries

Situated in the Metropolitan Gallery, in the heart of the city, the ASSOCIATION FOR VISUAL ARTS (AVA) offers a large and vibrant exhibition space for both experienced and emergent artists.

In addition to hosting exhibitions, AVA organises, through its active elected committee, a variety of art activities including workshops, concerts and informative lectures.

35 Church Street, Cape Town
www.ava.co.za

"Africa, an entire continent long overlooked as a source of contemporary art, has suddenly burst onto the international art world's radar screen" Barbara Pollack.

From its beginnings as a vibrant contemporary art gallery situated in the cultural concoct of downtown Cape Town, Bell-Roberts Contemporary Art has expanded to encompass design and printing, an art publishing house, framing, art consultation service and even a coffee/book shop.

Graphic Centre, 199 Loop Street, Cape Town
www.bell-roberts.com

Situated in the hub of Cape Town on Greenmarket Square, this collection is housed in the former City Hall (the Old Town House) built in 1755 in Cape Rococo style.

Donated by Sir Max Michaelis in 1914, it consists of a world-renowned selection of Nederlandish art from the seventeenth-century Golden Age.

There are works by Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Jacob Ruisdal, Anthony van Dyck and numerous others.

Old Town House, Greenmarket Square, Cape Town
www.museums.org.za/michaelis/

Do not miss the South African National Gallery. The museum houses a wide and interesting collection of 19th- and 20th-century European and British works, but it's most interesting for its South African works.

Many of the artworks reflect the country's traumatic history. The director, Marylin Martin, is known for innovative, brave, and sometimes controversial exhibitions.

Guided tours are given on Wednesdays at 1 and Saturdays at 3 and are free of charge.

Government Avenue, Gardens, Cape Town

Between the 2 galleries in Cape Town Carmel Art stocks the widest range of paintings by leading South African artists in a large variety of media and subjects from the traditional style in our Constantia Gallery to the more contemporary in our Claremont Gallery, which has recently been expanded and is now the largest contemporary art gallery in Cape Town.

Claremont Gallery: 66 Vineyard Road cnr. Cavendish Street, Claremont

Constantia Gallery: Constantia Village Shopping Centre, Main Road, Constantia

www.carmelart.co.za

The noble old Manor house has been put to practical use as the permanent home of the Rembrandt van Rijn Art Foundation.

Launched in 1964, the Foundation's main objective is to stimulate the appreciation of South African art and to introduce the work of eminent international artists to the general public.

31 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch
www.museums.org.za/rembrandt//