​Stellenbosch University Museum is a leading museum of the 21st century. It is located in the historical university town of Stellenbosch, part of the well-known wine tourism region of the Cape Winelands. The University Museum is the winner of the Mayoral Tourism Award for Sustainable Development from the Cape Winelands District Municipality and is considered by the Western Cape Government's Department of Cultural Affairs as the Best Museum Promoting Social Inclusion.

Museum location

The University Museum is located at 52 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch.

Opening Times

The Museum is open on Mondays to Fridays from 09:00 to 16:30, and on Saturdays from 08:00 to 12:30. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Entrance to the Museum is free.

Contact information

For more information, please contact the University Museum at +27(0)21 808 3695 or usmuseum@sun.ac.za or visit our website at www.sun.ac.za/museum.

Wednesday Art Walkabouts

The Wednesday Art Walkabouts are an initiative of Stellenbosch University Museum to showcase the art collected by Stellenbosch University over the last 100 years. Starting in February 2019, thereafter every first Wednesday of the month (except 1 May, Workers' Day), the University Museum showcases artworks from the permanent art collection of the University. The Wednesday Art Walkabouts are free to all members of the public and take place during lunchtime from 13:00 to 14:00.

Forward Fridays

As part of the Stellenbosch University Centenary programme, Stellenbosch University Museum is hosting a centenary exhibition, which opened on 5 December 2018 and will be on until 31 April 2019. The title of this experimental exhibition is Forward? Forward! Forward . . .

A selection of 100 artworks by established and emerging artists forms part of this thought-provoking group exhibition. An open call invited artists to propose artworks engaging with ideas about the future of higher education in the next 100 years. This innovative and compelling exhibition serves as a catalyst for debate and engagement on the future of Stellenbosch University and higher education in Africa.

Forward Fridays is a series of conversations inspired by the exhibition.

100 Artefacts Walkabouts

The 100 Artefacts for 100 Years' exhibition was opened by the Rector in 2018 as part of the Stellenbosch University Centenary commemorations. This exhibition was initiated by the Rector to represent the 100 years of Stellenbosch University's existence through the presentation of 100 objects of cultural-historical interest in Stellenbosch University Museum.

The 100 artefacts do not represent each of the 100 years and they do not tell the full story of the course of the University's history. They are simply a wide variety of objects associated with the University and represent the various faculties, administrative divisions, student residences and cultural activities. Some of the items date from the period before the founding of the University but were in fact used later by the University.

Prof Matilda Burden will be presenting a series of walkabouts of the exhibition on the following dates:

Date:                           Theme:                                                           Time:

7 February 2019         100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

5 March 2019             Bloemhof School Memories and SU History  13:00–14:00

7 March 2019              100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

11 April 2019              100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

9 May 2019                 100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

6 June 2019                 100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

5 September 2019      100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

17 October 2019         100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

7 November 2019       100 Artefacts for 100 Years                            13:00–14:00

African Drumming Tuesdays

African Drumming Tuesdays offers students, staff and community members around Stellenbosch an opportunity to learn the skills of playing an African drum. The drumming sessions are offered by Vuyo Mgijima, an experienced African drummer from Kayamandi, who has been sharing his passion for drumming with both locals and international tourists for the past 16 years.

According to Vuyo, playing the African drum is highly relaxing and therapeutic, relieving stress and nurturing creativity. It is also very good for increasing performance in the workplace and building team spirit and social cohesion.

The drumming sessions are free to all but, since the number of drums is limited, we encourage interested parties to book in advance. Ten places are available on a first come, first served basis.

Date:                                                                                                   Time:

19 February 2019                                                                                13:00–14:00

12 March 2019                                                                                    13:00–14:00

16 April 2019                                                                                      13:00–14:00

14 May 2019                                                                                       13:00–14:00

4 June 2019                                                                                         13:00–14:00

9 July 2019                                                                                          13:00–14:00

6 August 2019                                                                                     13:00–14:00

3 September 2019                                                                              13:00–14:00

8 October 2019                                                                                   13:00–14:00

Nelson Mandela Colloquium

Stellenbosch University Museum, in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Museum as part of a partnership agreement, hosts a Nelson Mandela colloquium each year. The colloquium brings together academics, students and community members to reflect collectively on the theme of each year.

Date: 26 July 2019 / Time: 18:00

Intergenerational Conversation on Racism and Human Rights

The Intergenerational Conversation on Racism and Human Rights brings together academics, students and the community of Stellenbosch to have an open dialogue on racism. This programme, which forms part of Human Rights Month in March, is organised in collaboration with Cllr Adams, who has been running an anti-racism campaign for years. The main aim of the programme is to help build a non-racial future. The programme is aligned with Stellenbosch University's strategic objective of building a thriving university.

Date: 20 March 2019 / Time: 18:00

Film screenings

Stellenbosch University Museum strives to play a key role in positioning the institution as a space of engagement, memory, heritage, debate and creativity through, among others, presenting four annual film screenings. The University Museum hopes to attract a variety of interest groups, from students and Stellenbosch community members to alumni. The 2019 film screening programme is as follows:

Whispering Truth to Power

Whispering Truth to Power documents the tense story of Thuli Madonsela's last year as South Africa's Public Protector while simultaneously crafting an absorbing tale of an outstanding lawyer, mother and woman and providing insight into several critical issues facing South Africa today, such as ongoing inequality, racial tensions, land redistribution and corruption.

Date: 11 April 2019 / Time: 18:00

The Last White President: Part 1

This two-part documentary, which includes two interviews with the former president and others involved in South Africa's peace process, attempts to catch a sense of FW de Klerk's enigmatic persona in less-guarded moments. The camera observes him preparing for exchanges and public interactions, tracking him over a year as he faces interrogators wanting definitive answers. What moved him to consider the end of apartheid?

Date: 27 June 2019 / Time: 18:00

The Last White President: Part 2

This two-part documentary, which includes two interviews with the former president and others involved in South Africa's peace process, attempts to catch a sense of FW de Klerk's enigmatic persona in less-guarded moments. The camera observes him preparing for exchanges and public interactions, tracking him over a year as he faces interrogators wanting definitive answers. What moved him to consider the end of apartheid?

Date: 26 September 2019 / Time: 18:00

Home Fire

Home Fire explores family violence and restorative justice from an aboriginal perspective. It features commentary from elders, community leaders and members of the Western justice system. Home Fire examines the colonisation of Canada, historical trauma, the Western justice system and grassroots healing programmes in aboriginal communities.

Date: 31 October 2019 / Time: 18:00

Networking lunch for registered tourist guides

Stellenbosch University Museum, in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, annually hosts a networking lunch for all registered tour operators and tourist guides in the Western Cape.

The event, which is hosted by the Director of the University Museum and the Registrar of Western Cape Tourist Guide Registration, offers tour operators and tourist guides an opportunity to make each other's acquaintance and to network with key players in the industry.

Date: 10 July 2019 / Time: 13:00

Host your next event at Stellenbosch University Museum

The historical front foyer, with its double-volume ceiling and dramatic woodwork, accommodates 150 guests in comfort and style. It is the ideal function space for a book launch, a new product release or an important media briefing. Seating can be arranged to suit the function and the number of guests.

The lecture theatre seats 40 attendees in classic lecture-room style, with fixed desks and upright chairs, a podium, a lectern, a retractable projection screen and a data projector. The room is wired for stereo sound and a cable microphone at the lectern. Internet is also available for clients from within the University. The lecture theatre furthermore boasts state-of-the-art teleconferencing facilities, for which special rates apply.

The Museum courtyard is a novel venue idea and perfect for all fresco functions, such as a cocktail event, a traditional braai or a wine tasting. This venue can host up to 200 guests.

The back foyer is a functional, elongated space, highly recommended as a food preparation space or a serving area for functions taking place in one of the other venues.

The Museum also boasts a state-of-the-art 20-seater boardroom for meetings and presentations. Boardroom use includes free Wi-Fi and internet.

All the venues offer a choice of audio-visual equipment, tables, chairs, podium and sound. Stellenbosch University Museum does not offer catering but can recommend catering companies contracted to the University.

Tariffs for the hiring of the venues at the University Museum are as follows:

Current exhibitions at Stellenbosch University Museum

Museology and heritage courses offered by Stellenbosch University Museum

Stellenbosch University Museum is the only museum in South Africa that offers training in museology on a formal basis. Short courses of three days (15 hours) each can be presented anywhere in South Africa on request.

Courses on the following topics are available: Introduction to Museology; Heritage Conservation; Architectural Styles; Furniture Studies; and Pictorial Africana. The courses are accredited and successful candidates receive a certificate of competence.

The presenter, Prof Matilda Burden, can be contacted for more information at mb4@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2002.

Access to the visual arts for school learners

This Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS)-aligned programme is designed to broaden learners' access to Stellenbosch University Museum and primarily to introduce learners to the visual arts, history and heritage.

For economic reasons, very few learners from disadvantaged backgrounds get an opportunity to visit museums. To help facilitate schools' participation in the programme, the University Museum covers the travelling costs of 15 learners per school. Lunch is also provided for the learners. Assistance is limited to previously disadvantaged schools located within a 120 km radius of Stellenbosch.

The programme and its activities are aligned to CAPS. A detailed programme is available on request and school bookings and enquiries can be made by contacting Ms Natasha Coltman at 021 808 3691 or ncoltman@sun.ac.za.