CAPE TOWN.- Exciting works of art from leading contemporary artists from Africa and the diaspora will be auctioned at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in partnership with Strauss & Co, at the museum on Saturday 1 December 2018.
The museum has been described by The Art Newspaper as a ”Private Tate Modern” and a good reason to visit Cape Town.

The auction will feature 28 lots, by 23 artists, from 10 countries, including William Kentridge, Nicholas Hlobo and Yinka Shonibare. Funds raised from the benefit auction will allow the museum to continue its community outreach efforts through the Centre for Art Education, underscoring its commitment to Access for All which remains central to the mission of Zeitz MOCAA.

Zeitz MOCAA is the first museum of its kind dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching and exhibiting 21st-century art from Africa and its diaspora. The museum hosts international exhibitions, develops supporting educational and enrichment programmes, encourages intercultural understanding, and guarantees access for all.

In addition to fulfilling the museum's mission, its primary objectives are to provide the public with economically viable access to a contemporary art (through the Access for All initiatives, which includes free admission to South African and African citizens); to operate schools’ programmes that enrich, inspire, and bring art and culture to school children (through the Centre for Art Education); and to provide artists from Africa and its diaspora an opportunity to present their achievements in the field of visual arts on their own terms.

Brooke Minto, Director of Institutional Advancement at Zeitz MOCAA, says of the auction: “We are incredibly thankful to the artists and galleries that have donated these significant works to us and made this auction possible. We are so grateful for their generosity, as we know they are continually asked to give to so many worthwhile causes – and yet they continue to be supportive of the museum, time and time again. These artists are an inspiration to future generations of creatives, and this museum is very much a place that encourages and celebrates them. With critical support from artists, collectors, and patrons alike, we can shape the museum’s future programming and ensure that Zeitz MOCAA has a deep and sustained impact on our community.”

Frank Kilbourn, Executive Chairperson at Strauss & Co, comments: "Strauss & Co strongly believes in the importance and relevance of Zeitz MOCAA. We are delighted to have the opportunity to use our brand and expertise to assist in raising funds for the laudable goal of art education, something we are deeply committed to.”

The auction will be held in the museum’s award-winning, reimagined grain silos, expertly-guided by Strauss & Co, who have waived all auction commissions, and are providing their advice and expertise as early and sustained corporate partners of the museum.