This Heritage month the National Museum and its satellites not only reflects on and celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures that make our country so beautiful and diverse, but also the invaluable role of museums, galleries and heritage sites in the preservation and promotion of our heritage. The creative sector is one of the primary spaces where diversity is explored, and contemporary heritage created, so join us at Oliewenhuis Art Museum on Heritage Day, 24 September 2025 to embrace our roots, share traditions, and cherish the bonds that connect us all.
Gather your loved ones and join us from 9:00 – 15:00 for an assortment of enjoyable activities. 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. Be sure to spend time appreciating the Sutha Ke Fete – the Art of the Basotho Blanket exhibition in the Reservoir Gallery!
You are also welcome to relax and unwind together in Oliewenhuis Art Museum’s serene settings. 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 to add to the celebrations. Take a leisurely stroll through the Sculpture Park or explore 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.
All attending is encouraged to wear heritage related and proudly South African attire.
The exhibitions on show are:
Sutha Ke Fete- The art of the Basotho Blanket
The Sanlam Art Collection compiled an exhibition featuring a selection of Basotho Blankets from various collections including the collection of the National Museum. The title, Sesotho for Make way so I may pass is an invitation to make way for an imagined passer-by, wrapped in a richly decorated heritage blanket. This saying captures the power and dignity of the blanket as a wearable work of art and a form of communication steeped in history and tradition. The blanket is perhaps one of the most recognisable associations with Basotho culture and history – from its origins in animal skins and karosses, to its 21st-century appearance on fashion runways and in Hollywood blockbusters.
The exhibition is accompanied by informative text, photographic and video materials.
On the arm of every woman…
The exhibition, curated in celebration of Woman’s Day, was inspired by the exquisite collection of historical handbags from the Collections Management and Library Department at the National Museum.
Different Departments of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, collaborated to curate an exhibition that is on show at Oliewenhuis Art Museum. This exciting amalgamation of artworks and beautifully made artefacts, curated by three female curators, was mindfully selected from the art collections of the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, Art Bank of South Africa and textiles from the Collections Management and Library Department.
On the arm of every woman, explores how a simple accessory, the handbag (and many other things ‘on the arms of women’), came to carry the weight of identity, independence, and social change.
36th Annual Sophia Gray Memorial Exhibition
Sophia Gray (1814 –1871) was the first woman to practise architecture in South Africa and one of the earliest women in the world to do so. As a tribute to her achievements, the University of the Free State instituted the annual Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture and Exhibition in 1989 to recognise the contributions of a practising architect. This year’s lecture and exhibition are presented by Wolff Architects from Cape Town, led by Ilze and Heinrich Wolff.
Parking fee: R10 per vehicle. Cash only.
Oliewenhuis Art Museum is located at 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein. For any enquiries or more information please contact Oliewenhuis Art Museum at 078 968 4300 or oliewen@nasmus.co.za. Oliewenhuis Art Museum is a satellite of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
For more information please contact: Ester le Roux, Curator at Oliewenhuis Art Museum at oliewen@nasmus.co.za.
Issued by:
Karen Marais, Snr Exhibition Officer at Oliewenhuis Art Museum
+27 (0) 78 968 4300
Oliewenhuis Art Museum
16 Harry Smith Street
Bloemfontein
T: +27 (0) 78 968 4300
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Visiting Hours:
Mon to Fri 8:00 – 17:00
Sat 9:00 – 16:00
Sun & Public Holidays 9:00 – 16:00
Closed on Good Friday & Christmas Day
Oliewenhuis Art Museum is a satellite of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
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