With *free entry to selected museums
Media images and interview requests, please contact: Zikhona Jafta at mediaofficer@iziko.org.za
On Wednesday, 16 December 2020, Iziko Museums of South Africa will be celebrating Reconciliation Day with *FREE ENTRY to selected museums! *Free entry includes the Iziko South African Museum, the Iziko South African National Gallery, the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum, the Iziko Slave Lodge and the Iziko Maritime Centre at the V&A Waterfront.
When visiting the Museums on Reconciliation Day, please note that there are COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure the safety of both staff and visitors. Subsequently, Iziko will be operating on reduced hours with timed-access sessions. The museums will be open from 10h00 until 14h30. The Iziko South African Museum, the Iziko South African National Gallery and the Iziko Slave Lodge will have two access sessions, with sanitisation periods in-between. Session 1 is from 10h00 until 11h30 and Session 2 is from 12h30 until 14h00. You can learn about Iziko’s timed-access and safety measurements HERE.
In commemoration of Reconciliation Day, explore Tata Madiba, Father of our democracy, Father of our Nation both online and at the Iziko South African Museum! This exhibition pays tribute to Nelson Mandela – an instrumental catalyst of change, a warrior against apartheid and advocate of social cohesion – and highlight’s Madiba’s extraordinary contribution in terms of the protection of South Africa’s rich biodiversity.
Visit Singing Freedom, on exhibition at the Iziko Slave Lodge, and learn about freedom songs and the various organisations, events and people who were involved in the struggle for an end to apartheid. Singing Freedom also draws on oral histories and the memories of a number of activists as well as musicians, and visitors are encouraged to listen to the music, read the lyrics, and watch the audio-visuals displayed.
Explore Gabrielle Goliath’s 2019 Standard Bank Young Artist award for Visual Arts, This song is for…, at the Iziko South African National Gallery. Goliath situates her practice within contexts marked by the traces, disparities and as-of-yet unreconciled traumas of colonialism and apartheid, as well as socially entrenched structures of patriarchal power and rape culture – which is highlighted in This song is for….
In welcoming you back, your health and safety, and that of our staff, is of utmost importance. Thank you for all your efforts in maintaining social distancing to keep both yourself and us safe. We’re so thrilled to welcome you back!
About Reconciliation Day
Celebrated annually, Reconciliation Day holds great significance to all South Africans and serves to foster reconciliation and national unity within the country. Formerly known as Dingaans Day – a holiday celebrated by Afrikaners for their victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838 – Reconciliation Day also marked a day of important protest against racial discrimination in 1910, as well as the founding day of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the African National Congress, in 1961. Considering its historical significance, 16 December was chosen to commemorate the ongoing reconciliation of all South Africans.
ENDS
Issued by: Ellen Agnew
Communications Coordinator: Iziko Museums of South Africa
Telephone: 021 481 3830 Email: eagnew@iziko.org.za
Website: www.iziko.org.za
Issued on behalf of the Office of the CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa
About Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko)
Iziko operates 11 national museums, the Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Social History Centre and three collection‑specific libraries in Cape Town. The museums that make up Iziko have their own history and character, presenting extensive art, social and natural history collections that reflect our diverse African heritage. Iziko is a public entity and public benefit organisation that brings together these museums under a single governance and leadership structure. The organisation allows *free access to all individuals on commemorative days, (*excluding the Castle of Good Hope, Groot Constantia and Planetarium and Digital Dome). Visit our webpage at www.iziko.org.za, join our online community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IzikoMuseums), Instagram (@izikomuseumssa) or follow us on Twitter (@Iziko_Museums) for regular updates on events, news and new exhibitions.
