The University of Cape Town provides free public access to a range of museums, memorials, theatres, and galleries. 

 On UCT’s  Hiddingh Campus, the UCT Michaelis Galleries at 31 Orange Street host monthly First Thursdays exhibitions and the annual Michaelis Graduate Show, both open and free to the public. 

The Centre for Curating the Archive is open for free, and based at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, at the University of Cape Town‘s Hiddingh Campus. The CCA works actively with many different kinds of collections, developing curatorship as a creative site of knowledge. Projects, publications and courses aim, through practice, to open up novel combinations of the historically separated domains of the creative arts and the truth-claiming discourses of history and the social and natural sciences. 

The CCA is located in the Old Medical School Building on the Hiddingh Campus in the city of Cape Town. It neighbours the national museums of Iziko, the Company Gardens of Cape Town, the Labia Cinema and the Drama Department of UCT. The CCA includes spaces for conservation, digital workstations, photographic reproduction, storage, documentation, research, teaching and the planning and construction of exhibitions.

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. 

The UCT Works of Art Collection makes UCT’s art collection available freely to the public and students alike, both digitally via its online portal, and in person.  In 2024, the Chancellor Oppenheimer Library  transformed its existing art display with a new installation of inspiring and thought-provoking works. The UCT Main Library got a bold new look as all current artworks are being removed and replaced with fresh paintings, photographs and sculptures.

This overhaul reflects the University's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and contemporary relevance. The new installation was intended to be visually compelling, but also showcases artists from our local community and the African continent. It aims to represent the diverse constituencies who work and study in the library and to engage meaningfully with current conversations and debates.

The project was led by the UCT Works of Art Committee (WOAC), which curates UCT's art collection, in collaboration with the Library Transformation Committee (LTC). However, these committees are not working in isolation: the process is open and participatory. WOAC and the LTC invite UCT students, staff and community members to help shape the future of the library's artistic environment.

A public workshop was held on 17 September 2024 at Hlanganani Junction in UCT's Main Library, where attendees could help envision what this space could become.

Under the guidance of UCT Libraries Executive Director Ujala Satgoor, WOAC and the LTC envisioned a new look for the Main Library that is dynamic, inclusive, and reflective of the intellectual and creative energy on campus and in society at large. This installation offers a chance for a much-loved and widely used space to evolve into a site of transformation, dialogue and imagination – something all visitors and stakeholders can be proud of.

As Ujala Satgoor explains: "This new installation aims to inspire students and staff, making the library a space where education and creativity intersect, and a reflection of the dynamic identity of the UCT community. This transformation goes beyond aesthetics – it's about creating a space that acknowledges and amplifies the diverse voices and ideas that shape our University every day."

This initiative is not just an aesthetic upgrade – it aligns with UCT's broader Vision 2030. Guided by the University's mission to "unleash human potential to create a fair and just society," the project embodies the inclusive, forward-thinking leadership that defines UCT. It ensures that the library remains a space that nurtures creativity, dialogue and reflection for all.