South Africa is no stranger to public art, but recent years have seen a revival of some sort. The latest spot to jump on the bandwagon is Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal with the launch of the BOOMTOWN Public Art Festival that took place between 22 and 28 May.
The theme for this year’s festival was “If this is your land, where are your stories?”.
The masterminds behind the festival, as well as the ongoing initiative to create an inclusive space for local artists, are Jono Hornby and Jaqui Hiltermann. They own Gallery ZAZA, and say they ‘live and breathe public art and storytelling. We have so many plans for the future of public art and storytelling,’ says Jaqui.
‘One of the most crucial parts of the BOOMTOWN Public Art Festival was to create an energy around Hilton, and to begin changing the landscape. Our idea to turn Hilton into a public art gallery has been overwhelmingly positive, and the community has been instrumental in the mood around this,’ their website reads.
But the initiative didn’t end with the festival. Projects and activities that showcase and uplift the artists are ongoing.
Take a look:
Artists contributing to BOOMTOWN are:
– Siyabonga Sikosana
– Keagan Dunn
– Sarah Kelly
– Thato Sbk
– Megan Moore
– Hussein Salim
– Lelo Mncwango
– Jono Hornby
– Kyle Smith (videographer)
– Jaqui Hiltermann (writer)
For updates, exciting news or more information, follow BOOMTOWN on Facebook.
Video: Kyle Judd
Pictures: BOOMTOWN
ALSO READ
