During March and April 2003 South Africa will host the 7th World Congress on Art Deco in Cape Town. The “Post Congress” meeting will take place in Durban from March 30 until April 3 and is expected to attract international interest. Delegates from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom are expected to attend.

Durban has a rich Art Deco heritage and in a recently completed study by students from the school of Architecture, Planning and Housing at the University of Natal, 80 quality Art Deco buildings were identified within its confines.

A programme has been initiated that includes daily lectures and site tours to local buildings, many of which are internationally recognised. Lectures will be held at the NBS Education Centre Botanic Gardens, Sydenham Road.

To coincide with the Art Deco Week, an exhibition of photographs of Art Deco buildings titled Geometric Modern will be held at the NSA Gallery’s Mezzanine from March 18 to April 6. Also included will be architectural drawings by students from the University of Natal.

The Durban Art Gallery will also host an exhibition of Art Deco paintings and objects.

For more information and the full schedule of the Art Deco programmes, contact Jean Powell, President, Durban Art Deco on 031 266-3082 or email: terencep@saol.com