Cape Town is
a diverse, cultural city and is the hometown of many South African artists,
poets and musicians.
Cape Town is
a diverse, cultural city and is the hometown of many South African artists,
poets and musicians. The vibrant people and magnificent views inspire many
creative souls and Cape Town is renowned as the creative centre of South Africa.
There are a variety of attractions for those who love a bit of artistic flair
from art galleries, jazz festivals and flower shows to theatres, annual
festivals and music events, Cape Town has a creative outing for the most
distinct and creative travelers. If you would like to get your creative juices
flowing, here is a list of Cape Town’s creative hotspots.
Everyone
loves flowers and the Cape Town Flower and Garden Show offers a world-class
display of show gardens, lectures, Cape Town cuisine and wine. This spectacular
exhibition of flowers, plants and exotic species is held annually at the
Lourensford Wine Estate.
Cape
Town has a host of theatres offering the best of South Africa’s homegrown
talent. The Baxter theatre was established in 1960 and is a platform for dance,
music and live theatre. The Artscape Theatre is an all-round arts venue and is
renowned for its ballet and opera. On Broadway in Longstreet focuses on the
cabaret scene. The Masque Theatre in Muizenberg is an intimate theatre that hosts
a variety of professional and semi-professional productions. Other theatres
include Theatre on the Bay, Maynardville Open Air Theatre, The Playhouse and
Villa Pascal Theatre.
The
Kirstenbosch summer concerts are the perfect way to spend a family outing on a
Sunday afternoon. Relax and picnic in the beautiful botanical gardens while
South Africa’s talented musicians entertain you. All music lovers are catered
for from jazz to rock.
Cape
Town proudly hosts more than 100 art galleries and the artwork reflects the
diverse South African culture and scenery. You will not be disappointed if you
are looking for a piece of art as a unique memento and even the most serious
art collectors will easily find a masterpiece.
Bo-kaap
is the home to the Cape’s Muslim community and this brightly coloured village
adorns many post cards. Bo-Kaap has a fascinating history and it is worthwhile
having a traditional Cape Malay meal at one of the restaurants that line the
brightly coloured houses and narrow cobbled streets.
In 1966
the government declared District Six a “white area” and moved all the coloured
and black people out the area to the Cape Flats. The history of this vibrant
community is relived in the District Six Museum and is worth a visit to learn
more about Cape Towns’ history.
The
“Museum Mile”, collectively known as the Iziko Museums, is located near Cape
Town and consists of 12 museums and celebrate natural history, social history
and art. These museums are the perfect way to explore Cape Town’s cultural
history. The exhibits include insects, fish, dinosaurs and 700 million year old
fossils.
The
Cape Town International Jazz Fest is a favourite amongst locals and is a feast
of good music. It has grown into a hugely successful international event and
about 34 000 people attend each year. The festival brings more that 40
international and local artists who perform over 2 days on five stages and has
earned the status of being a prestigious event.
If you have
a creative spirit, Cape Town is also the perfect destination to inspire your
own creative ideas.
