16 The full UJ Arts Academy ensemble taking a bow at the conclusion of the showcase. (UJ Arts & Culture, 2025) UJ Arts & Culture, a division within the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, plays a central role in the University’s cultural life and institutional engagement. The division manages a range of venues that support both academic and public activities, including Senate and Faculty Board meetings, executive engagements, conferences, lectures, concerts, festivals, film screenings, book launches and theatre productions. Alongside its public programme of exhibitions and performances, Arts & Culture contributes to the University’s strategic objectives by advancing creative output and supporting research through the Creative Output Stimulus Programme funded by the University Research Committee. The division also provides a wide-ranging extramural arts programme, offered free to students across the University. Activities include participation in the UJ Choir, drama classes, ballet, afro-fusion and contemporary dance, poetry workshops and competitions, and a photography club. These Arts Academy activities culminate in a public year-end showcase. In 2025, a total of 2,923 students registered for Arts Academy programmes. Through funding from CATHSSETA, the division received 769 applications for 23 internship positions. Seven artist residencies were administered during the year, and the 2026 call attracted 204 applications, from which eight artists were selected. In 2025, Arts & Culture presented 39 public events at the Arts Centre, attended by 19,180 audience members. Together with off-campus performances by the UJ Choir and Voices+, the division’s total audience reach exceeded 68,000. Client-hosted events attracted a further 20,151 patrons, bringing total annual venue attendance to 39,331, representing a 16% increase. Marketing and communications initiatives generated an advertising value equivalent (AVE) of R9,509,490. The division maintained a POPIA-compliant database of 22,929 contacts and recorded notable growth across its social media platforms, with the UJ Arts & Culture Instagram account increasing from 8,993 to 11,000 followers. The Division’s extracurricular programme, offered to students from across the institution at no cost, includes UJ Choir, drama classes, a photography club, ballet, afrofusion, and contemporary dance classes, poetry classes, workshops, and slam competitions. This programme is offered under the aegis of the Arts Academy. UJ Arts Academy Arts Academy classes (some over two years) are presented by professionals who are highly skilled facilitators in their field. Following the registration and onboarding process in February and March, Arts Academy classes commenced in April and ran during academic term until October. From the many students who signed up and auditioned, 500 were selected and participated in the various activities and programmes. Of this number, 430 students qualified for cultural bursaries at the end of the year - this is dependent on strict attendance and participation criteria. Arts Academy activities culminated in a weeklong year-end showcase attended by family, friends, and the public. During 2025 the following classes and programmes were presented. Drama classes facilitated by Stephren Saayman, Judy Nyembe and Jade Bowers focused in the first year on character development, and in the second on the develop- ment of participants’ performance skills, confidence, creativity, and understanding of dramatic techniques. Poetry classes facilitated by Richard Quaz Roodt were held weekly for both new and returning students, incorporating monthly slam competitions starting in the second semester. This journey culminated in a grand slam during the annual year-end showcase. Dance was catered for by classes in both Contemporary Dance facilitated by Fana Tshabalala, around the theme ‘Fragments of Memories’, and in Adult Ballet facilitated by Ipeleng Merafe and Prof Catherine Botha, which focuses on choreography and technique. The Photography Club, coordinated by Nonhlanhla UJ ARTS AND CULTURE
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