/ 15 July 2014

DON’T MISS THIS: Argentinian Cultural Week and CT fashion week

Joanne and Chris Thorpe are challenging 50/50's take on the row.
Joanne and Chris Thorpe are challenging 50/50's take on the row.

Cape Town
Mercedes-Benz and African Fashion International are teaming up to bring you the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town, which will showcase local designers’ new spring/summer looks. All 25 designers – including Craig Port, Selfi, Loin Cloth and Ashes and KLûK CGDT – will present their collection in 15 shows. Sizwe Nzimande, spokesperson for the event, says: “As Cape Town enjoys its status as World Design Capital 2014, African Fashion International is celebrating freedom under the pillars of art, fashion and design with various exciting development platforms to add a uniquely engaging element to the event.” 
WHEN July 24 to 26
WHERE Cape Town International Convention Centre
BOOKINGS webtickets.co.za
INFO Visit afi.za.com

Johannesburg
The Argentinian Cultural Week includes a line-up of exhibitions, dance performances, a theatre production and music collaborations. It is the first of many events to run from July until the end of 2015 as part of a continuing artistic exchange programme between Argentina and South Africa. “This is the first programme of its kind to be initiated between Argentina and an African country and we look forward to a long and creative relationship,” says Argentina’s ambassador, Carlos Sersale.
WHEN July 22–26
WHERE Various locations in Johannesburg
INFO No tickets are required for the exhibitions or the dance performances. For more info about the Argentine cultural week visit embassyofargentina.co.za or facebook.com/argcw

Catch Vusi Mahlasela in the first in a series of outdoor ­winter concerts at Monaghan Farm. There is no entrance fee for children under 12. Children’s pizza will be on sale and there’s a playground.
WHEN July 19 at 2.30pm for 3pm
WHERE The Other Side Restaurant, Monaghan Farm, Lanseria
COST R250 a person includes delicious post-concert mutton, chicken and vegetable biryanis at sunset
INFO Visit monaghanfarm.co.za/events for more info

Airport employees will take to the stage alongside flight crew members from four different international airlines to present a global three-part opera called This New Ocean. The production covers a period extending from the earliest beginnings of humanity to the age of globalisation. The roles will be sung by pilots and flight attendants from South African Airways, Lufthansa (Munich), All Nippon Airways (Tokyo), S7 Airlines (Moscow) and employees of Munich Airport, which initiated and funded the project. Munich-based conductor Anton Zapf will instruct the 15 professional musicians backing the singers. It will be supported by the Soweto-based 100-voice Children’s Choir that has been set up under the umbrella of Miagi (music is a great investment) – a nongovernmental organisation that provides access to music education.
WHEN July 18, 19 and 20
WHERE Soweto Theatre
INFO Entry is free but is subject to available seats so booking is recommended at sowetotheatre.com or call 086 167 0670.

Celebrate Mandela Day by joining the Freedom Ride on Sunday July 20. It’s a 36km social bicycle ride (not a race!) along a heritage route from the Nelson Mandela bridge in Braamfontein to Vilakazi Street in Soweto. The ride is part of the campaign for a cycling friendly city. Vilakazi Street will be abuzz with music, performers and some much needed refreshments. Cyclists will co-create a unique artwork of Mandela before riding back to the city. 
WHEN Sunday July 20 2104
WHERE Nelson Mandela bridge, Braamfontein, to Vilakazi Street, Soweto, and back again
INFO Find out more and register at www.freedomride.org.za

Port Elizabeth
This year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Award for visual arts has been given to Hasan and Husain Essop. The brothers have worked together in multiple media since graduating from Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town in 2007. Their work draws from everyday life and deals with themes related to community, religion and popular culture.
WHEN July 24 to August 31
WHERE Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, 1 Park Drive
INFO Call 041 506 2000