Brainstorms on the Bay is a public lecture series hosted by the Simon’s Town Museum, in collaboration with The Commons in Muizenberg, and is designed to stimulate informed discussion and debate amongst community members living across the South Peninsula.
The series seeks to build a deeper understanding of our complex history and the deep divides we continue to struggle with. We want to make sense of our current political impasse, and learn to think about key global challenges such as climate change and ecological collapse. The creative arts (painting, writing, theatre) music, and history are also themes covered in this series.
Many people remain unaware of the Simon’s Town Museum and its programmes, including its events, projects and installations on forced removals.
The Museum and the Phoenix Committee work together in keeping alive the memories and experiences of those who had to leave Simon’s Town for Ocean View and elsewhere in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Simon’s Town Museum is an active space of living heritage, discussion, and engagement.
Lectures will take place at the Museum on the first Wednesday of every month, at 7.30pm, and at the Commons on the last Wednesday of every month. Some will take place in Ocean View at 2.30pm on Saturdays to enable local community members to attend. To sign up for the mailing list contact – see below.
PROGRAMME FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2024
Wed 7th Feb (Museum) Well-known author and journalist Max du Preez talks about South Africa’s Lost Thirty Years, in conversation with Lester Kiewit of Cape Talk [ SOLD OUT]
Wed 21st Feb (Commons) Renowned UCT scientist Prof Timm Hoffman presents A Window to What Was, discussing how photographic evidence reveals long-term processes of environmental change. His discussant is Dr Rick Rohde
Sat 9th March (Museum) Caryn Dolley, a prolific author and expert on organized crime, discusses Gangsterism’s Vast Grip on Our Lives, in conversation with Prof Irvin Kinnes of UCT
Wed 20th March (Commons) Internationally recognised scientist Prof Justin O’Rian of UCT talks about Baboon Management on the Cape Peninsula, with remarks and questions by Prof Ben Cousins of UWC
Wed 10rd April (Museum) Prof Harald Winkler, an expert on renewable energy from UCT,
discusses The Climate Crisis and a Just Transition in SA
Wed 17th April (Commons) Nomfundo Xaluva-Dyantjes of UCT talks about the unique sound of South African Jazz.
Sat 4th May (Ocean View) Buhle Booi, an activist from Ndifuna Ukhwazi, presents an analysis of Apartheid Geography and Cape Town’s Housing Crisis, and will be responded to Dr John Spyropoulos, an academic and practitioner
Wed 15th May (Commons) Leading oceanographer Prof Pedro Monteiro of U. Stellenbosch lectures on Southern African Oceans and Climate Change, with his colleague Dr Precious Nongwe as discussant
Sat 25th May (Museum) Joline Young, an experienced researcher and heritage practitioner, presents research findings on Cape Slavery and Simon’s Town’s History, with Prof Gabeba Baderoon of the U. of Pennsylvania as her discussant
Fri and Sat 7th and 8th June World Ocean Day: Winter Lecture Series (with films and theatre): details to be announced
Wed 12th June (Museum) Poetry reading with award-winning poets Gabeba Baderoon and Khosi Xaba
Sat 15th June (Museum) Theatre performance and fundraiser: My Fellow South Africans, by Mike van Graan
Wed 19th June (Museum) Acclaimed playwright Mike van Graan presents a talk on Theatre and Social Transformation: Let the Box Office Decide
WHAT: Brainstorms on the Bay
WHERE: Simon’s Town Museum, 4 Court Rd, Simon’s Town, Cape Town 7975
WHEN & LOCATIONS: see Programme above |
TICKETS: RSVP to Tazneem E education@simonstownmuseum.co.za | T 021 786 3046
INFO: to receive mailings please register Simon’s Town Museum: E education@simonstownmuseum.co.za | The Commons Muizenberg E thecommons.muizenberg@gmail.com | See also Cape Town Green Map
Simon’s Town Museum [29]The WHAT, WHY & WHERE of the
arts scene in around Cape Town
see the 2023 art craft + museums_map
and listen in to the Sanlam
Arts Round Up Fridays @17:30
on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm
The FMR App makes it even easier to tune into the Sanlam Arts Round Up on Fridays! i-Phone HERE | Android HERE
