Joburg gears up for World Orchid Conference

20 Aug 2014

The 21st World Orchid Conference & Show will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 10-14 September 2014.

Joburg gears up for World Orchid Conference

"A World Orchid Show is one of the biggest flower shows held anywhere in the world - and comparatively bigger than the famous Chelsea Gardens Show held annually in the UK," said Pumla Ntsele, deputy director of Joburg Tourism's Convention Bureau.

The exhibition is open to the public and tickets can be purchased online from www.woc21.org. Special discounts for school groups, clubs and retirement homes are also available via the website.

A show of this size traditionally requires an exhibit space for plants and flowers in excess of 10,000m² and is generally attended by 100,000 local visitors. The event is organised and staged on a non-profit, not-for-gain basis, with all surplus proceeds to benefit South Africa's endangered biodiversity.

Running concurrently with the World Orchid Conference & Show, the following major events will also be presented at the Sandton Convention Centre:

2014 National Cycad Display;

2014 South African National Biodiversity Institute Display;

2014 Protea and Fynbos Display;

21st World Orchid Conference Photographic Competition;

21st World Orchid Conference Botanical Art Competition;

2014 National Floral Art Competition;

2014 National South African Cake Decorators Guild Competition;

21st World Orchid Conference RSA Date Stamp;

WOC21 - WOSA Wetland Display;

Aloe, Succulent and Model Train Display;

South African Ikebana Display; and

21st World Orchid Conference Guinness Book of Records Attempt.

Art Competition

The World Orchid International Botanical Art Competition has attracted well over 100 entries with international competitors from Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Two of the artists will be travelling to South Africa in September for the 21st WOC & Show.

This competition has been organised and curated by Gillian Condy, of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, herself a world-recognised botanical artist. This effort shows the vast range of interests at play with orchids as their theme.

All the art will be on view at the SCC from 10-14 September with many of the works for sale, with a benefit to the 21st WOC Trust.