One of the City of Johannesburg’s most beloved assets is its art gallery located in Joubert Park in the inner city. 

It’s a heritage gem and a facility that boasts diverse and rich art collections. Many of these collections were assembled and amassed by the early city founders and added to through the decades with funding from the city and donors. The building itself is a treasure, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, and officially opened in 1915. 

But in the last two decades the gallery has come under significant pressure and strain. Eben Keun, from Friends of JAG (Johannesburg Art Gallery) explains: “This is a significant public art collection of national and international importance. The collections have been left to the people of Johannesburg as a deed of donation with the City’s role being to preserve and facilitate access to the collection for all. Yet for years, the institution and building have been allowed to deteriorate through chronic under-maintenance, weak operational support, and a lack of sustained public accountability.”

This ongoing crisis forced a group of concerned art lovers and Joburgers to act by coming together to renew and reinvigorate the civic organisation, Friends of JAG. 

What was the problem?

This vital city institution was allowed to fall into disrepair in front of the eyes of Joburgers. 

There were seemingly no watchdogs and no civic oversight to what was happening in plain sight and also behind the scenes. 

At stake was the loss of not just a heritage building but an important part of cultural and creative life in the city. Losing JAG would be a loss of identity, opportunity, and trust and confidence in the city. 

How are they solving it?

Friends of JAG as an organisation is not new, having existed since 1976. It has had a long-established role supporting JAG through public programmes, fundraising and advocacy. But Keun says: “The current moment demands a renewed and more active civic posture. We had to mobilise a broader coalition of citizens, heritage practitioners, cultural workers, and concerned institutions who understand that the gallery cannot survive through goodwill alone.”

The Friends of JAG have tried to do this by working closely with the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation. The focus being to “strengthen public awareness, consolidate a clear civic voice, and contribute constructively to a more credible plan for stabilising and safeguarding the gallery, its collection, and its future”, says Keun.

He adds that they managed to shift public attention and to ensure that the JAG crisis is not pushed to the background. They also demanded transparency, communication and accountability and for the City to recognise that the gallery is part of Joburg’s future, not its past.

As Keun says: “Art galleries are often treated as optional extras in a city, but cultural infrastructure is part of the economic and social ecosystem of a thriving city: it supports education, public life, tourism, place-making, and the cultural and creative industries.”

What makes it work?

Working within a “broken” institution  – As a “Friends of” organisation, the movement leverages off being an insider to the Johannesburg Art Gallery as it fights to build awareness and supports JAG to be restored and maintained. 

Collaborating with other civic organisations – The strong alignment between the Friends of JAG and the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation means being able to share platforms, resources and networks. 

Adapting and pushing a strong narrative – Friends of JAG foregrounded the importance of maintaining an art gallery not as something that is a “nice to have” or a “cherished relic” but as a necessary institution for any large, thriving, modern city and its future. 

Having a defined civic ‘brand’ – Friends of JAG, says Keun, has sought to be “principled and practical”, recognising that effective civic action is not just protesting, but also understanding policy, stakeholders, budgets, maintenance realities, and the complexity of running a public institution.”

Understanding limits and still acting – The Friends of JAG are realistic about the challenges. Keun adds:  JAG’s challenges are structural, and they require structural responses: proper funding models, consistent maintenance regimes, governance integrity, and an approach that treats the collection and building as assets requiring professional care and long-term planning.

Using citizen energy and media exposure -  Friends of JAG have been consistent and outspoken about ensuring the poor state of the gallery is not a marginal issue for the city. This has included running a strong, sustained media and social media campaign.

Acknowledgements

Author: FixLocal Reporter

Additional articles/sources: https://friendsofjag.org/

Photograph: Friends of JAG