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Cascoland Durban 2008
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The BAT Centre Trust was established in 1995 with the Trust monies for the first 5 years of the Austrian millionaire, Hugo Bartel. The purpose of the Centre was to provide a platform for disadvantaged artists, and to facilitate the growth and promotion of the grassroots, the experimental, cross-over trends, and artistic innovation.
The BAT Centre is located within the small craft harbour off Durban’s Victoria Embankment. The facility is located on the property of the National Port Authority, and negotiations are almost complete for the lease to be extended for the next 30 years. It is close to the high density residential areas in the Central Business District, and is within easy walking distance of all major cultural, tourist and transport nodes of the City. The BAT Centre complex consists of variety of facilities ranging from a number of intimate art galleries, to a small conference centre, a performance hall, dance studio, art and music studios, a restaurant, bar and outside deck.
The BAT Centre provides emerging artists with a variety of facilities via its programmes. These include “artists/musicians in residence” packages which provide studio space, materials and marketing opportunities for the selected artists/musician; literate and poetry promotion; exhibitions on site; training modules run by visiting facilitators.
The BAT has developed a robust outreach venture which incorporates emerging artists from outlying areas into art development programmes, and provides other community art centre with advice on projects and with project expertise. In its dedication to the development and promotion of local arts and culture, the BAT Centre has grown to become the leading community arts centre in the province and a premier centre nationwide.
Over the recent years BAT Centre has developed into a platform for local, national and international collaborations.
The BAT Centre is located within the small craft harbour off Durban’s Victoria Embankment. The facility is located on the property of the National Port Authority, and negotiations are almost complete for the lease to be extended for the next 30 years. It is close to the high density residential areas in the Central Business District, and is within easy walking distance of all major cultural, tourist and transport nodes of the City. The BAT Centre complex consists of variety of facilities ranging from a number of intimate art galleries, to a small conference centre, a performance hall, dance studio, art and music studios, a restaurant, bar and outside deck.
The BAT Centre provides emerging artists with a variety of facilities via its programmes. These include “artists/musicians in residence” packages which provide studio space, materials and marketing opportunities for the selected artists/musician; literate and poetry promotion; exhibitions on site; training modules run by visiting facilitators.
The BAT has developed a robust outreach venture which incorporates emerging artists from outlying areas into art development programmes, and provides other community art centre with advice on projects and with project expertise. In its dedication to the development and promotion of local arts and culture, the BAT Centre has grown to become the leading community arts centre in the province and a premier centre nationwide.
Over the recent years BAT Centre has developed into a platform for local, national and international collaborations.