"Make it New" Exhibition Celebrates the Cape's Design History | Western Cape Government

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"Make it New" Exhibition Celebrates the Cape's Design History

16 October 2014

On Wednesday, 15 October 2014, the “Make it New” exhibition was launched at the Cape Town Stadium as part of the World Design Capital Design House opening. This exhibition is part of a flagship project of World Design Capital (WDC) Cape Town 2014 titled Makers + Thinkers – see. learn. do. This will run for a week at the Stadium.

The “Make it New” exhibition was designed in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), the Cape Craft + Design Institute (CCDI) and Cape Town Design. DCAS gave funding to the exhibition and, through Museum Services, also supplied photographs of artefacts for the exhibition. The exhibition showcases significant objects produced in the Western Cape.

Erika Elk, Executive Director of the CCDI, said at the opening that they were proud to have partnered with DCAS. “We believe that design is about transforming life”, she said.

Hannetjie du Preez, Chief Director for Cultural Affairs, said that through the involvement of Museum Services in the exhibition, a gap was being filled to showcase the design inheritance of the Cape. “This exhibition showcases our design heritage through the ages”, she said. She also mentioned that this exhibition would become a legacy project and that it was hoped that a digital version of the exhibition could be taken to Bavaria next year.

City of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille officially opened the exhibition for the public and emphasised the fact that we have to think of new ways for cities to grow and develop, due to changing migration trends.

DCAS Minister Nomafrench Mbombo said in a message of support that exhibitions like this one are important in keeping our cultural heritage alive. “We should be proud of the design innovations that have come from Cape Town. It is also important for us to consider the history of design in this region before we start planning design for the future. My department will continue using our resources from museums to contribute to projects such as this.” she said.

DCAS will continue supporting projects such as this to continue the narrative of the Western Cape’s cultural heritage. We encourage all people in the Western Cape to go and visit the exhibition in order to learn more about our design history. Let us support the World Design Capital initiative and proudly promote our cultural heritage BETTER TOGETHER.

Media Enquiries: 

Annerie Pruis-Le Roux
Acting Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9730
E-mail: annerie.pruis-leroux@westerncape.gov.za