Published March 20, 2020
The Javett-UP Art Centre at UP will be temporarily closed to assist South Africa with implementing social distancing.
The Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP) is a place for people, and in the spirit of social responsibility, has decided to do its part in minimising the spread of Covid-19 and temporarily close for at least a month.
Javett-UP will be closed until 17 April 2020 when the Centre will reassess and decide whether to reopen. This decision will be guided by information and direction from the National Department of Health, other healthcare and epidemiology experts and the University of Pretoria executive.
“Javett-UP is a place where people can come and relate, through art, to others to learn more about themselves and each other and contribute to conversations about Africa’s past, present and future. We have put this measure in place to assist our employees and fellow South Africans in the larger national effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” said Ed Southey, Javett-UP Arts Centre Foundation Trust Chairperson.
“Javett-UP looks forward to opening its doors again when the Covid-19 crisis is behind us. We want nothing more than to continue sharing the ways in which Africa’s artists express the myriad, complex narratives of the continent and why our African-ness matters. However, we are deeply committed to managing Covid-19, flattening the transmission curve and keeping our staff and visitors safe,” said Southey.
In the meantime, please stay in touch with Javett-UP on all its social media platforms and via www.javettup.art. The Centre is planning big things when it reopens, and will keep people up to date on digital platforms.