Published April 23, 2020
The board of trustees at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP) has announced the appointment of Dr Samuel Isaacs as interim chief executive officer. Isaacs’ appointment came into effect on 1 April 2020.
Previously director of administration and operations at Javett-UP, Isaacs describes himself as an adult educator at heart with a lifelong commitment to adult learning. He has previously held positions at the South African Qualifications Authority (as chief executive officer) and at Peninsula Technikon (as director of the Centre for Continuing Education).
He is also director and chairperson of Longstreet Art Lovers; chairperson of the Pretoria Arts Association; and chairperson of the Independent Quality Assurance Agency. Isaacs holds a BSc, a Diploma for Educators of Adults and a higher diploma in education (all from the University of Cape Town). In 2011 he was awarded the D.Ed (hc) by the University of the Western Cape in recognition of his work.
In making the announcement last week, board of trustees chairperson Ed Southey congratulated Isaacs on this appointment and wished him well in the role. Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the globe, Mr Southey said he was confident that Isaacs and curatorial director Christopher Till would see Javett-UP through extraordinary and challenging times.
Javett-UP remains closed in line with national lockdown regulations. The art centre will reopen when these regulations allow. The present flagship exhibition, 101 Collecting Conversations, Signature Works of a Century must close on 28 June 2020. The exhibition brings together 101 defining works by South African artists from the last 100 years. There will, in all likelihood, never be another opportunity to see these seminal and extraordinary works exhibited together in this way.
Please follow Javett-UP on social media platforms to virtually view the exhibition and learn more about the artists and the works.