Over ten immersive days, the UJ Art Gallery, in partnership with the MTN Foundation, hosted the Future Curators Programme, a transformative initiative designed to introduce 15 aspiring student curators to the professional world of exhibition-making. The programme blended practical experience with mentorship, theory, and visits to major art spaces in Johannesburg, enabling students to connect with leading figures in the arts while developing their curatorial voices.
From symbolic team-building exercises at MTN Headquarters to hands-on installations in the UJ Art Gallery, students transitioned from concept to execution, gaining firsthand knowledge of curation, marketing and gallery operations. The goal was to nurture the next generation of South African curators through experiential learning, collaboration and critical thinking.
The programme ran from 1 to 12 July 2025 and brought together 15 student participants. Over the course of the two weeks, they visited prominent galleries, including the Goodman Gallery, Banele Khoza (BKhz) Gallery and Everard Read, along with leading arts institutions among them Johannesburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF), Bag Factory, and the David Krut Workshop including a visit to the professional production studio Workhorse Bronze Foundry. Participants took part in focused workshops on marketing, curatorial writing, installation processes, and gallery operations. As the programme developed, they collaborated in teams to conceptualise and mount their own exhibitions. The experience concluded with a final showcase featuring three curated exhibitions: Salt of the Earth, Bourne Identities, and The In-Between.
“My favourite part of this experience was meeting new people and learning what curating is,” says Oliver Viedge, Programme Participant
“We saw real growth in the students’ confidence and curatorial voice. This is the next generation of cultural leaders,” says Amogelang Maledu, Curator and Mentor.
“The highlight for me was the enthusiasm of our participants and all the gallery visits that we did. The importance of this programme is educating our young people and giving them a glimpse of what their future might look like,” states Dineke Orton, Curator at UJ Art Gallery
“My highlight was meeting the participants and the wonderful UJ gallery team that helped with the installation. They were amazing,” says Niel Nortje, MTN Art Collection Manager
Social Media Links:
Call for applications Press Release: https://arts.uj.ac.za/call-for-mtn-x-uj-future-curators-programme-2025/
UJ Art Gallery Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ujartgallery/
Salt of the Earth Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/sote._art/
Guardians of the Gallery Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/guardiansofthe_gallery/.
