Freedom Day Celebrations at Oliewenhuis Art Museum on Monday, 28 April 2025
Join Oliewenhuis Art Museum on Monday, 28 March 2025 (Freedom Day observed) to celebrate Freedom Day, the first democratic, post-apartheid, non-racial elections that were held on April 27th 1994.
Gather your loved ones and join us in relaxing and unwinding together in Oliewenhuis Art Museum’s serene settings, on this special day from 10:00 until 15:00. Prepare a delightful picnic, and soak up the sun in the front garden, before or after appreciating the diverse art exhibitions on show. A DJ will provide a variety of background music and there will be a few stalls selling food, snacks and refreshments. Take a leisurely stroll through the Sculpture Park or the walking trails. For the little ones, there's the unique African Carousel, offering rides for just R5 each, ensuring that everyone has a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Wander through and enjoy the exhibitions on show in the Main Building and the Reservoir, where each exhibition is curated to captivate your imagination, challenge your perceptions, and inspire your creativity. As you explore these thoughtfully curated spaces, you'll encounter a diverse array of artistic expressions and innovative concepts that invite you to engage deeply with the works on display. Each corner reveals new surprises, encouraging you to reflect on the themes presented and sparking a sense of wonder that lingers long after your visit.
Exhibitions on Display:
Learning through art: Museum as classroom
Venue: Oliewenhuis Art Museum (1st floor of Main Building)
This exhibition, curated from the Permanent Collection, is centred around the Visual Arts Curriculum for learners in grades 10-12. All artists represented in the Grade 12 Visual Arts Curriculum are South African artists, giving learners the opportunity to the experience the authentic artworks in real time and space. A wide range of topics are covered, with a particular focus on socio-political issues, gender issues, South African artists inspired by African art, as well as digital art and new media. The exhibition showcases a diverse array of renowned artists, such as living legends Noria Mabasa, and Esther Mahlangu as well as artworks by historically significant artists such as Pierneef and Irma Stern.
Venture: Exploring through ArtbankSA’s Evolving Contemporary Collection
Venue: Oliewenhuis Art Museum (Reservoir)
Venture showcases recent acquisitions and established works from ArtbankSA’s contemporary collection. This exhibition offers visitors the chance to explore the richness of South African art and the ongoing evolution of its identity, particularly in relation to the South African diaspora.
Mythologies of Time - a solo exhibition by Simon Venter
Venue: Oliewenhuis Art Museum (Main Building)
This exhibition, Mythologies of Time, is a compelling exploration of the intersections between history, human existence, and technology. Venter, a self-taught artist, has developed a distinctive visual language over the past nine years, merging Christian iconography with diverse artistic traditions to interrogate themes of identity, spirituality, and modernity.
Fundamentally
Venue: Oliewenhuis Art Museum (Main Building)
A commemorative and reflective exhibition on human rights, curated from Oliewenhuis Art Museum’s Permanent Collection.
Sculpture Park and Cement and Mosaic Project
Venue: Oliewenhuis Art Museum (Gardens)
Visitors can also enjoy the museum’s Sculpture Park, which houses 16 sculptures by various South African artists as well as the functional sculptures created as part of the Cement and Mosaic Project.
Event Details:
• Date: Monday, 28 March 2025
• Time: 10:00 to 15:00
• Venue: Oliewenhuis Art Museum, Bloemfontein
Oliewenhuis Art Museum is located at 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein and is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays between 09:00 and 16:00. A ramp at the entrance of the main entrance provides access for wheel chairs, while a lift provides access to the Permanent Collection display areas on the 1st floor. R10 parking fee will be charged but entrance to the museum is free.
For more information on Oliewenhuis Art Museum please contact the Museum at 078 968 4300 or
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