Museums and Democracy: celebrating our 20 years of democracy

The programme will also highlight aspects of World Design Capital 2014, celebrate International Mother Tongue Day, and reflect on 100 years post-World War I. The multi-faceted Summer School includes a series of public engagements, hands-on activities, film screenings, Iziko Mobile Museum outreach, and walkabouts.

Programme highlights

In keeping with the World Design Capital theme, Summer School 2014 kicks off with a public talk entitled: "Bridging the Divide - Cross-culturalism in the associations and usage of isishweshe", by Dr Juliette Leeb-du Toit, art historian, senior research associate and part-time lecturer. The talk and walk-about of the exhibition, The isiShweshwe story: material women?" will take place on Saturday, 1 February, from 10h30-14h00 at the Iziko Slave Lodge.

Panel discussion: "Our Nation in Conversation IV: Deepening our democracy"

Factors that opened the road to our constitutional transformation; the role of youth and the public broadcaster in a democratic state; the KhoiSan struggle of loss and return; governance and the state of the nation; and activism and the role of intellectuals in South Africa's democracy will be reflected on by thought leaders such as Dave Stuart, Yershen Pillay, Dr Yvette Abrahams, Judith February and Dr Xolela Mangcu.

This public engagement, chaired by Ryland Fisher, aims to reflect on the 20 years of South Africa's democracy, and takes place on 8 February at the Iziko South African Museum, from 11:00 until 16:30.

"The luggage is Still labelled" is a documentary that takes the viewer through the challenges that black artists face in the pre- and post-apartheid dispensation, co-produced by Julie McGee and Vuyille Voyiya. The film will be screened on 15 February from 10:00-11:00 in the T H Barry Lecture Theatre, Iziko South African Museum. Thereafter, panelists' Vuyile Voyiya, Andrew Lamprecht, Riason Naidoo and Athi Mongezeleli Joja will engage in a conversation to help unravel the issue. This conversation will be chaired by Dr Heidi Grunebaum.

Vineyard walk and wine tasting at Groot Constantia, will take place on 15 February at 11h00-12h00. This strenuous walk covers rough terrain and is therefore not recommended for persons with walking aides or prams. The tour departs from the Manor House and costs R100 per person. Booking is essential.

Daily lunch time film screenings

A selection of films and documentaries will be screened at the T H Barry Lecture Theatre, Iziko South African Museum. Titles include: David Webster lived for democracy, killed by apartheid; The 16th Man, directed by Clifford Bestall, produced by Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary; Political Imprisonment Lessons in African Leadership; Apartheid's Last Stand; Mandela Freed and Organizations Unbanned and The Luggage is still labelled.

Catch the Iziko Mobile Museum at the Landbougenootskap Festival, Heidelberg, from 13-15 February.

This "Museum without Walls" connects people, raises awareness and inculcates respect for our rich and diverse cultural heritage in South Africa. Through this initiative, Iziko 'takes the museum' to communities that are unable to visit the museums.

For more, go to www.iziko.org.za