In the spirit of collaboration and sharing a passion for the arts, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Internationalisation, Advancement and Student Affairs Prof Tinyiko Maluleke at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), hosted esteemed colleagues from Taylor University in the United States of America, and other local and international artists and professors of art.
The meeting, which took place on Wednesday, 5 June 2013 on the Auckland Park Kingsway and Bunting Road Campuses, and initially planned to take place at Freedom Park in Pretoria, was intended as a space were colleagues and professionals in the arts could share ideas, collaborate and experience the arts.
Among the guests were Prof Rachel Hostetter Smith, Gilkison Professor of Art History at Taylor University; Prof Joel Carpenter, Director: Nagel Institute, Calvin College; Prof Karen von Veh, Senior Lecturer, Department of Fine Art: Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Mr Ashraf Johaardien, Head: UJ Arts and Culture and Ms Annali Dempsey, Curator: UJ Arts Centre.
After a networking session and exploring possible areas of collaboration, guests were treated to the opening of the Craig Muller exhibition at the Arts Centre, and later a theatrical play and technical run of “Romeo and Juliet Unplugged”.
“Many members of the group remarked how positively impressed they were with UJ’s programmes in the arts, and we hope that there will be opportunities to collaborate with UJ in the future,” says Prof Hostetter Smith.