The University of Cape Town provides free public access to a range of heritage-designated buildings, monuments and cultural landscapes of national and regional significance, and many of these host museum openings, memorials, theatres, galleries and regular public events. UCT’s Upper Campus, part of the historic Groote Schuur Estate on the slopes of Table Mountain, is a recognised provincial heritage site and architectural ensemble of national significance freely accessible to visitors, walkers and heritage tours.

The adjacent Rhodes Memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker (1912), is a public monument and popular viewpoint located directly above the campus, visited daily without charge. On UCT’s Hiddingh Campus, Bertram House is the only surviving unpainted red brick two-story house left from early Georgian architecture in the city. The house has a special place in the history of the South African architecture. In 1962, it was declared a national monument, and today remains a provincial heritage site in accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act (25/1999). Bertram House functions as a public museum of Georgian architecture, while the UCT Michaelis Galleries at 31 Orange Street host monthly First Thursdays exhibitions and the annual Michaelis Graduate Show, both open free to the public.

The Irma Stern Museum, managed by UCT on Middle Campus, welcomes public visitors throughout the year and offers regular exhibitions. In her will, Irma Stern left her collections in trust for the encouragement and promotion of Fine Arts. From this the Irma Stern Museum was founded so that these collections would be used to further the arts in South Africa and internationally. And for this reason, we have the chance of sharing with our visitors not only the artworks of Irma Stern and the wonderful artefacts and furniture she collected, but also to see these displayed in her own eccentric home. Under 18’s, students, pensioners and UCT staff are all admitted for free, while other visitors pay a nominal fee of R65.

UCT’s Baxter Theatre Centre UCT’s Baxter Theatre Centre is a long-standing public performance venue presenting concerts, theatre and festivals with public ticketing and community programming; it is an established cultural asset used by both the university and the public.

Sarah Baartman Hall (campus ceremonial hall) — the university’s principal ceremonial hall (renamed as part of UCT’s heritage/renaming programme) is a key historic campus building and focal point for public ceremonies and events. (Renaming events and heritage commentary are well documented.)

Campus public art, sculpture and open landscapes (Upper, Middle and Hiddingh Campuses) — UCT’s campuses contain numerous publicly accessible sculptures, memorials, and outdoor exhibition spaces (including the Michaelis Graduate Exhibition, outdoor sculpture displays and public events such as concerts and community exhibitions), all contributing to the university’s accessible cultural landscape.

These include:

These freely accessible sites—together with campus sculptures, memorials and the open heritage landscape connecting the university to Table Mountain National Park—demonstrate UCT’s commitment to sharing its built and natural heritage with the wider community.

Public, accessible events at UCT Campus in 2024

Other public events at UCT in 2024

UCT’s South African College of Music events 2024