NWU Gallery Officially Opens New Home with “I Hope You Dance” Exhibition
- Karen Scheepers
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
The North-West University (NWU) celebrated a significant cultural milestone this week with the official opening of its relocated art gallery, now housed in Building F16G on the Potchefstroom Campus. The launch took place on Wednesday, 26 June, accompanied by the unveiling of the gallery’s inaugural exhibition in the new space, titled I Hope You Dance.
This move marks a new chapter for the NWU Gallery, which until recently shared premises with the university’s main library and archive. The newly dedicated venue near the Protection Services building offers enhanced visibility and room for growth, positioning the gallery as a central node for artistic engagement on campus.
A Century of Art on Display
The opening exhibition draws from the university’s long-established art collection, offering visitors a curated selection of works spanning nearly 100 years. Through the theme I Hope You Dance, the exhibition explores life’s dynamic rhythms, its grace, improvisation, struggle, and transformation, using the language of visual art.
According to event materials, the exhibition “honours the past, embraces the present, and invites us to envision the future,” linking generational creativity with broader reflections on identity, legacy, and aspiration.
The gallery space was filled with guests from across the university and local community, many of whom described the exhibition as both introspective and uplifting. The visual curation juxtaposed contemporary pieces with older works from the NWU Art Collection, emphasizing continuity across decades of South African artistic development.
Cultural Growth and Institutional Investment
The relocation of the gallery forms part of NWU’s broader strategy to elevate arts and culture within the university setting. With its new home, the gallery is expected to expand its programming, deepen community outreach, and provide a more accessible platform for showcasing both emerging and established artists.
While the opening event remained focused on the exhibition, it also served as a soft relaunch of the gallery’s public presence, one shaped not only by its physical space, but by its capacity to foster dialogue through art.
Several attendees noted the importance of sustaining artistic institutions within academic environments. “Spaces like this give life to cultural memory,” one visitor commented. “They’re not just about aesthetics, they’re about interpretation, conversation, and context.”
Exhibition Open to Public Until 5 July
The I Hope You Dance exhibition is open to the public and will remain on display until 5 July 2025. Entry is free, and the gallery is open during university hours. Visitors can expect to see a cross-section of works that celebrate both historical depth and contemporary expression.
The opening of the new gallery space, paired with a thoughtfully curated exhibition, signals NWU’s intention to build a lasting cultural legacy, one grounded in reflection, relevance, and artistic exploration.
Exhibition Details:
Title: I Hope You Dance
Location: NWU Gallery, Building F16G, Potchefstroom Campus
Dates: Now open until 5 July 2025
Public Access: Weekdays during NWU operating hours
For Potchefstroom residents, students, and staff, the exhibition offers a timely opportunity to engage with South African art through a fresh lens and to witness the next step in the NWU Gallery’s evolving
Comments