Deteriorating Johannesburg Art Gallery in further crisis ahead of rainy season

702 Breakfast presenter Bongani Bingwa speaks to Currency co-founder and editor Giulietta Talevi about the terrible state of the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG).

Listen below.

It's the largest art gallery in Africa, housing some of the Continent's most valuable pieces among its 9000 artworks. The neglect of the JAG has been reported for several years. Rather than being on public display, many artworks are in storage in appalling conditions, facing exposure to water damage from roof leaks, flooding and black mould. 

Investigations have revealed that the facility is easy to break into, littered with dead rats and birds - and the copper that once adorned its roof is long gone.

Talevi says the JAG has a paltry 5000 visitors annually compared to the 184,000 at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town.

"We want to go and see our cultural heritage and we are disinclined to because the building is in such a state. The art is not being displayed properly."

- Giulietta Talevi, Editor - Currency

"The art collection of the City of Johannesburg belongs to the people of the City of Johannesburg, not the City itself. The City is the custodian under the Deed of Donation, which is how this was established in 1908."

- Giulietta Talevi, Editor - Currency

Talevi explains that Friends of JAG and the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation are at their wit's end. In August, law firm Webber Wentzel acting pro bono served a letter of demand on Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero.

The letter of demand states that the City of Johannesburg has to move the entire collection into a place of safekeeping before the rains start, assess the situation and enact plans to repair the building.

"Unfortunately, the rains have already started... and the City moves like treacle."

- Giulietta Talevi, Editor - Currency

"It's an easy win for the City and does not have to be adverserial. Turn that precinct into something we could be proud of that attracts tourists, schools, and art lovers."

- Bongani Bingwa, Presenter - 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa

Talevi mentions that the extensive collection features notable works from the European canon, including pieces by Picasso, Rodin, and Monet. It also highlights masterpieces from the African school, showcasing artists such as Gerard Sekoto, William Kentridge, Irma Stern, Nandipha Mntambo, and many others.

"... great South African contemporary artists and great historical South African artists, as well as African artists..."

- Giulietta Talevi, Editor and Co-Founder - Currency

She estimates the collection could be valued at hundreds of millions of rands.

Talevi says the City is not acting quickly enough and refuses to release the full catalogue, which is raising suspicion.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.