Celebrating 30 Years of Creativity & Artistic Excellence
The festival will present a variety of artistic programmes featuring artists from various sectors of the Creative Industries will usher in a refreshing line up of cultural activities which includes music, fashion, craft, comedy, dance, theatre, visual art and variety of enlightening and educational dialogues.
The programme is curated in celebration of Joburg’s diverse culture and underwrites the important role of culture for critical and active citizenry and solidarity. This year’s vibrant lineup of events reaches across traditional art barriers through commercial and avant-garde spaces, ensuring that many art forms of numerous genres and their contributions are recognized while highlighting the significance of keeping the arts alive. The Arts Alive programme will once again feature something for everybody.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Arts Alive International Festival 2022 and shining the spotlight on the discipline of Jazz, we have curated a jazz offering titled “Jazz In The Lights” that will be presented as the closing concert for the Festival on The 16th December @ the Joburg Zoo.

Featured Events
Arts Alive 2022 Programme
See all the upcoming events for the Arts Alive 2022 Programme.
Back to the City Festival
Back to the City Festival
- October 1, 2022
- 12:00
Following a two-year hiatus where the festival took place online on two consecutive editions to adjust with covid rules, Africa’s biggest Hip-Hop Festival is thrilled to be back and rebranded to Hennessy Back To The City International Hip Hop.
The festival will, once again, see the streets of Newtown in Johannesburg filled with the sights and sounds of hip hop in a one-day event featuring some of the biggest names in local and international Hip-Hop talent. It will feature over 100 acts, 3 stages, food and clothing stalls, a basketball court, a skate park, live graffiti artists, b-boys and the SA Hip-Hop Summit that is set to take place on the 18th of September and will feature talks, practical lessons, and a great panelist of industry giants at the South African Hip Hop Museum inside Museum Africa in Newtown.
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Global Dance Supreme
Global Dance Supreme
- October 8, 2022
- 10:30
The event offers an opportunity for all local dancers to showcase their talent on a global platform with other countries who will serve up their best moves in performances determined to capture the international title and bragging rights.
Madagascar, Angola, Mali, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Angola, Nigeria will be among the international countries taking part at this prestigious Dance event.
Event Tickets for Global Dance Supreme 2022 are available at Pick & Pay outlets and online at Web Tickets – https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1517299665
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Beatmakers Market
Beatmakers Market
- October 16, 2022
Beat Makers Market is a collaborative developmental platform for music producers, beat-makers, artists, and music gear brands to connect. Beat Makers Market is an event experience like no other with Beat Battles, Beat Auctions, Music Rights Workshops, Panel Discussions, Exhibitors, Celebrity Judges, and Live performances, and the famous Icon award that is given to someone who has made an impact in the music industry and this year’s Icon award will be awarded to Lindelani Mkhize.
- Turnkey Music, Randburg — 16 October 2022 — 12:00
- Nandi Primary School, Diepkloof — 20 November — 08:00
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition
Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition
- October 26, 2022
Moshito Music Conference and Exhibitions is Africa’s premier event for the music industry to engage on the business of music and has positioned itself as a platform for the music industry businesses and organisations, small enterprises, artists, and musicians to engage the business of music. Since 2004 Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition has established itself as Africa’s premiere music industry event.
With a purpose to broaden the business intelligence of music industry professionals in Africa, strengthen business networks for participants and inform delegates, strengthen business networks for participants and inform delegates, traders, and the public about the multifaceted and dynamic nature of the global music industry.
- Joburg Theatre Lesedi: 26 October 2022 — 18:00-23:00 & 27 – 28 October 2022 — 09:00-17:00
Attendance upon registrations on Moshito website - Concert: 27 October 2022 — 18:00-23:00
- Willowmoore Parl: 29 October 2022 — 12:00-23:00
ENTRANCE is FREE!
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
DisArtbility Theatre Festival
DisArtbility Theatre Festival
- October 27, 2022
- 11:00
DisAritbility School Festival is a programme of various art disciplines including drama, dance, poetry, music, and theatre workshops by school learners living with disabilities and special needs in the Soweto region. These learners between the ages of 10 and 19 will be participating from Thula Sizwe School of Autism, Tlhokomelo Primary School, Phumla School for the Severely Mentally, Adelaide Tambo School for the Physically Challenged, Winnie Madikizela Mandela School and Albertina Sisulu Centre. On the 27th October 2022 at Soweto Theatre, learners will use the mediums to address social ills and social issues affecting them in their daily lives. Performances are then followed by dialogues facilitated by applied drama and theatre industry experts such as Cebile Dlamini and Themba Mkhoma.
For more information, please contact:
Kaiser Kubheka — KaiserK@joburg.org.za
Cromwell Ngobeni Solo Exhibition
Cromwell Ngobeni Solo Exhibition
- October 27, 2022
- 18:00
The Arts Alive Festival presents what promises to be an astounding solo exhibition of this pre-eminent visual artist who has a unique style and uses monochromatic charcoal and pastel drawing in his work. Having always contemplated working with the medium of oil, Ngobeni promises his audiences, collectors and followers a refreshing surprise offering during this solo.
Cromwell Ngobeni is a young and highly gifted artists who trained with the Artist Proof Studios and later launched his solo career carving a niche in the Visual Arts Market.
Exhibition running until 27 November 2022
Open to the public. Artworks for Sale.
For more information, please contact:
Nozuko Nelane — nozukon@joburg.org.za
14th Jozi Book Fair Festival
14th Jozi Book Fair Festival
- October 28, 2022
The theme is Reimagine and Remake the World. The festival is an exciting space for book lovers, publishers, authors, social movements, activists, children, and youth to ‘Read the word and the World’.
The JBF addresses the weak culture of reading and creates readers and writers to promote mother tongue and to use all art forms to exercise their social agency. The project works with children, youth, and women throughout the year.
Over the three days, there will be events for the whole family, including the launch of the Marikana Exhibition, Seminars, Book Launches, Round Tables, Workshops, Cultural Activities, book sales and many exciting activities.
- Reception & Launch of Marikana Exhibition: Friday 28 October 2022
By Invitation only - Children & School Youth Programme Saturday: 30 October 2022 — 9:00-17:00
- Social Movements, Youth, and Public Sunday: 31 October 2022 — 9:00-17:00
ENTRANCE is FREE! Register online!
For more information, please visit www.jozibookfair.org.za or contact:
0791015889 / 0113369190 / jozibookfair@khanyacollege.org.za or
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Fists Remain Raised: Dance Production
Fists Remain Raised: Dance Production
- October 28, 2022
Drawing from the life and ideology of Steven Bantu Biko, this collaborative work speaks to the affirmation of humanity through the belief that we are all worthy of freedom and the responsibilities that come with it. This multi-layered work addresses the social ills of today, referencing our history in order to navigate our future. Fists Remain Raised is a collective celebration of the paths forged and ones we continue blaze in the pursuit of holistic liberation that black people yearn for and aspire to.
UJ Con Cowan Theatre, Bunting Road Campus: 28th Oct 2022 — 19:00 (Opening), 29th Oct 2022 — 14:00 (Matinee)
ENTRANCE is FREE!
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
It’s All Jazz Really Podcast
It’s All Jazz Really Podcast
- November 3, 2022
- 19:00
The Evolution of South African Jazz and Alternative Music and its Youthful Revolution
A blended couch session style podcast and industry discussion on the current state of jazz/ alternative music and its youthful development. The podcast will also be an opportunity to grow the culture of archiving and documenting South African music and its story.
ENTRANCE is FREE!
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
South African Music Colloquium
South African Music Colloquium
- November 8, 2022
- 17:00
The South African Music Colloquium is set to deal with the current cross-cutting concerns through preparatorystudies, capacity building and policy domain in education. Followed by a debate and meeting to formulate policies that will implement South African Heritage Music school as mandatory.
We invite distinguished specialist, researchers, and authors in the South African Landscape.
The primary objective of the colloquium is to the facilitate the realization of the noble ideal of reintroducing art education in particular music education in institutions of basic education thereby advancing arts, culture, and heritage in society broadly.
The programme will feature one day schools Workshops as a precursor to a sustained programmatic intervention beyond magnet schools. Our target is music students, intermediate, teachers, advanced, musicians, and aspiring musicians who despite musical experience, may not have a good understanding and exposure to South African Indigenous Styles.
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Aloota Continua
Aloota Continua
- November 12, 2022
- 16:00
Aloota Continua is engaged South African theatre that creates a vivid picture of a series of events that shook our country and have left a reminder that we dare not ignore. It deals with
the July 2021 uprising/riots. The loss of life (about 350 people perished) and damage (approximately R35 billion) goods and infrastructure were unprecedented in our post-1994 history. The audience is encouraged to think for itself whether the uprising was justified, and whether it has advanced the interests of the masses of poor and unemployed.
- Alexandra Arts Academy 12 November 2022 @ 16:00
- Doornkop Hall, Soweto 13 November 2022 @ 14:30
Payment: R20
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Alex Youth Arts Festival
Alex Youth Arts Festival
- November 12, 2022
- 09:00
Breaking Silence’ is the theme of this year’s Youth Arts Festival. We strongly hold the view that it is through young people that we will be able to address things that are pertinent in our society. This year festival is going to bring a diverse group of artists that come from different parts of City and the Province at large. The Alex Youth Arts Festival will stage thought provoking theatre productions, using theatre as a tool for storytelling, stories that may not generally get a platform in traditional theatre spaces. The festival will also feature the famous Selaelo Maredi’s Black Age presented by the company and directed by the veteran himself”.
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Occupation: Swiss & SA Collaboration
Occupation: Swiss & SA Collaboration
- November 13, 2022
- 14:00
Parts of the project are open-ended, inviting collaborators to use the museum space—to think with and in it, about their own work, about the politics of JAG, and about what to do together using the prompt of ‘occupation’ with relation to art spaces. Accompanying this will be curatorial interventions with the JAG collection, as well as screenings and performances. The intervention is interested in producing a methodology that is driven by learning together, rather than operating from a traditional curatorial position that has the potential to foreclose conceptual possibilities.
The list of participants, thus far, includes Memory Biwa, Abri De Swardt, Gilles Furtwängler, Thulile Gamedze, Donna Kukama, Robert Machiri, Zen Marie, Mpumelelo Mcata, Tumi Mogorosi, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Gabi Motuba, Nayansaku Mufwankolo, Vusumzi Nkomo, Overnight Services, Naadira Patel, Tshepang Ramoba, Stéphanie Rosianu, The Wretched, Andrei Van Wyk, Henri Michel Yéré, Shirin Yousefi, and a group of second year students from the Wits School of Art.
Occupation continues the work of the shows BLANK. With a bet on a long distance relationship, with time, slow thinking and deep conversations, 2 and The Ghost Exhibition, which took place at Circuit in Lausanne, Switzerland between 2020 and 2021. In this series of exhibitions, collaboration and collaborative processes underpinned the work of the entire project, guiding the way in which the shows were produced.
ENTRANCE is FREE! For more information, please contact:
Khwezi Gule — KhweziG@joburg.org.za
Endzeni Ka Jele Ra Yena
Endzeni Ka Jele Ra Yena
- November 17, 2022
A comedy Play based on the life of Amukelani Chauke. A salesman who loses his job due to the world pandemic and instead of searching for another job he decides to refocus on his music career ambitions, in realizing that it also doesn’t work. He drowns in depression and isolates himself from the society, hiding his alternate psychopathic ego from his family and friends as he delves deeper into his hedonistic fantasies.
Joburg Theatre (Lesedi Theatre): 17 November 2022 — 15:00 & 19:00
Payment: R100
For more information, please contact:
Kaiser Kubheka — KaiserK@joburg.org.za
Stand-up Comedy & Poetry Showdown
Stand-up Comedy & Poetry Showdown
- November 26, 2022
- 14:00
Arts Alive wishes to create a platform for emerging artists in these growing disciplines of the creative industries. Selected participants will have an opportunity to display their respective talents before a live audience, for a chance to win mentorship with an industry professional as well as cash prizes. This is meant to give them that necessary boost in their career.
ENTRANCE is FREE!
For more information, please contact:
Palesa Mnyaka — palesamny@joburg.org.za
Emerging Fashion and Craft Showcase and Workshop
Emerging Fashion and Craft Showcase and Workshop
- November 30, 2022
- 09:00
The programme aims to create a platform to showcase works of emerging fashion designers and crafters from all the regions of the city and provide them with a workshop on how to manage a fashion and craft business to promote creation of small businesses.
The main activites of the program will include the following: A workshop, Exhibition & Pop-Up Shop. The programme will be in collaboration with the National Department of Sports, Arts & Culture and the Fashion Industry Awards South Africa.
By invitation only.
For more information, please contact:
Thuli Ndlovu — ThulileNdlo@joburg.org.za
Bassline Summer
Bassline Summer
- December 2, 2022
Bassline Summer is a 2-day festival hosted at Jozi’s iconic Con Hill. Starting on Friday 2nd December from 7pm to 1am and Saturday 3rd from 2pm to 12am. Producing 3 stages with 24 artists/acts, six international acts & 16 South African artists/acts. There will be a curated Craft Market, called the Creative Uprising Market which is an artisan pop-up market that showcases the talent of local artists, makers, and unique small businesses who create handmade goods and original artwork with a story.
- 2 December 2022 — 19:00-01:00
- 3 December 2022 — 14:00-00:00
Tickets: R300
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Gerard Sekoto Festival
Gerard Sekoto Festival
- December 3, 2022
- 10:00
The Gerard Sekoto Youth Festival is held annually at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) as a way of celebrating the birthdate of the late Nntate Gerard Sekoto on the 09 December 1900. Historically, the Sekoto Festival has been focused on children’s activities such as face painting and visual exposure of children to the art world, however this year the festival will expand its programme to including youth and adults from within the inner-city to build a greater appreciation for Visual Art and also to widen awareness of the legacy of skillful artistic mastery of Nntate Gerard Sekoto.
For more information, please contact:
Khwezi Gule — KhweziG@joburg.org.za
Mbuso Khoza and Heritage Ensemble Presents: “Ijadu le Afrika”
Mbuso Khoza and Heritage Ensemble Presents: “Ijadu le Afrika”
- December 5, 2022
- 14:00
African storytelling and lecture through traditional South African hymns, indigenous choral delivery, isicathamiya, the art of praise singing and the migration story of Johannesburg. The event will commemorate and preserve the art of oral historical archiving.
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za
Ten Days in a Shebeen
Ten Days in a Shebeen
- December 13, 2022
This Standard Bank Merit Award-winning production is Set in a shebeen somewhere in Umlazi a shebeen queen narrates the story. The story revolves around a young boy who plans a robbery of his father together with his friends. A father who left them, an abusive father, a father who killed his mother, a father who never did anything for the family a rich father. They succeed and kill him. In a shebeen they are scared, fear rules them, they draw themselves in alcohol spending this blood money. The story tackles the following issues: woman abuse, Gander-based violence, and alcohol and drug abuse. The play highlights the conflict and greed that occurs inside the shebeen, and the social topics aim to raise awareness about the struggles of women. The story is told through powerful monologues, images play a pivotal role, music and sound capes push the story.
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Jacobs — JacquiJ@joburg.org.za








Arts Alive 2022 was Made Possible Thanks to the Following Partners





