Artscape Theatre to get R1.5bn revamp

Cape Town - The Artscape Theatre Centre is to undergo a R1.5bn revamp which will transform it into the cultural hub of Cape Town, CEO Michael Maas said on Wednesday.

"The arts are about the development of people, the creation of opportunities, bringing people to the stages and audiences to the theatres," he said at the launch of the revamp.

He said the aim of the project was to make the arts attractive to people from all social spheres, combining western arts with indigenous arts.

The project, called "Artscape Live Vision 20!20", would involve a seven-year expansion of the 41-year-old complex - which was formerly the Nico Malan Theatre - over 17 000m² of neighbouring vacant land in the city's CBD.

Double job opportunities

The expansion would include an arts academy for 300 students, a concert hall, a drama teaching studio, four double-height seminar and rehearsal studios, a rigging studio for the Zip Zap Circus School and three dedicated dance rehearsal spaces.

"By more than doubling its footprint, the Artscape complex could propel South Africa into the forefront of the international cultural economy and double the current number of job opportunities in the performing arts industry," Maas said.

Artscape chairman Somadoda Fikeni said approvals and funding still needed to be secured from the local, provincial and national government.