The term “public” art refers to art made for public spaces. Traditionally embodied by the statue in the town square, contemporary public art has expanded into a creative, multi-disciplinary practice that sees artists working with architects and engineers, sociologists and social processes, geographers and historians, urban planners and environmentalists, government departments and private corporations. Today, public art practitioners are helping to change the face of public space and, with that, assist in changing the psychology so intertwined with our surroundings.

For the Public Art Seminar: Creative Approaches to Growing Cities on June 21, the KZNSA has partnered with Ethekwini’s Imagine Durban to invite key South African practitioners to talk about specific case studies. The talks take the form of highly-visual presentations on key South African public art programmes and examine how cities are influenced and informed by interdisciplinary creative approaches. In addition to the exercise having a research and networking function, the creativity of the projects presented will serve as inspiration and stimulation for the development of new ideas and projects.

Presenters include Dorothee Kreutzveldt: Joubert Park Project, Johannesburg (http://www.jpp.org.za/); Roger van Wyk: Public Eye, Cape Town (http://www.public-eye.co.za/); Stephen Hobbs: Trinity Session and Johannesburg Development Agency Projects (http://www.onair.co.za/), and Doung Jahangeer: DALA, Durban (http://www.dala.org.za/)

This programme will address methods of building Durban’s identity as a creative city (a mission that facilitates a sustainable and creative approach to urban development), as well as building an artistically competitive Durban along the lines of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Chicago and Berlin, cities that have made creativity core to their development plans. Essential to this discussion is involvement by the municipality, the institution tasked with the responsibility for the productive, proactive and creative development of Durban.

Lunch will be served in Bulwer Park.

Public Art Seminar: Creative Approaches to Growing Cities is supported by Ethekwini Municipality, Sustainable Cities Network, Imagine Durban, Plus Network, Dala, Joubert Park Project, Public Eye and Trinity Sessions. More information from the KZNSA on 031 277 1703 or email: : brenton@kznsagallery.co.za