Key staff appointments I enjoy learning new things, and I have a passion for interacting with society and communities to share lessons I’ve learnt. I also enjoy making a difference in the lives of my colleagues. Essentially, I come to work to live my dream life.
Prof Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu Dean: Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
After being a member of the Faculty for over 15 years, Professor Chitiga-Mabugu is keen to promote and ensure research productivity with high-impact relevance. “I also plan to enhance and uphold the significance and excellence of the Faculty’s academic offerings; actively pursue alternative funding sources, maintain financial sustainability and optimise resources; as well as advance an ethical, diverse and inclusive faculty community that strives for equity and cultivates a sense of belonging for all.” She holds a BSc (Hons) and MSc Economics from the University of Zimbabwe and a PhD in Economics from Gothenburg University in Sweden.
One of the founding principles is that the art practice of the continent must be represented within Javett-UP. Makola, previously head of the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg, became the first African to chair the World Press Photo Awards General Jury in 2021. His vision for Javett-UP is to position the art centre as a leading space for transdisciplinary engagement, where different types of practices interface to generate new ways of understanding arts cultural practice.
Lekgetho Makola CEO: Javett-UP
“We are beginning to diversify as a product where people can come to access knowledge and research, but also for leisure and pleasure. That element is critical: how the art can be pleasing and healing. With COVID limitations, we're investing in technology and how it can assist us to be accessible to as wide a public as possible."
Pertinent issues are urgent now, like the construction of masculinities, and abstraction. Former Wits lecturer Ngcobo – who had curated one of Javett-UP’s opening exhibitions – was included in ARTnews’s May 2021 list of 25 Curators Shaping the Art World Today. Like Makolo, she is equally intent to open up access to the centre. “We’re always thinking about how we can reach as many people as possible to come to the centre – and also how Javett-UP can have a presence in different areas.”
Gabi Ngcobo Curatorial director: Javett-UP
40 TUKKIE | University of Pretoria
Part of their research process is “to open up new entry points to the themes and to the collections”. One way to do this is to create fresh artistic responses.
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