Melville, the quirky suburb west of Johannesburg’s CBD, steps into the First Thursdays culture for the first time with Melville Art Mile.
On the first Thursday of every month, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Stellenbosch host First Thursdays. Art galleries, cultural spaces, and various venues stay open late for public exploration. The concept originally emerged in east London before it spread globally.
On 4 December, Melville’s art scene comes together for the debut of Melville Art Mile, a collective initiative by organisations within the area. Visitors can experience open galleries, studios, markets, local crafts, and live music. An evening filled with art, creativity, rhythm, and the neighbourhood’s charm. There will also be workshops, from talks to arts and crafts, offering a chance to engage with the creative scene.
What to expect at Melville Art Mile
Featured galleries include Stokvel Gallery, a no-commission, artist-run space in Melville’s 27 Boxes that highlights emerging voices. AA Galerie, another artist-run initiative created to bridge the gaps that exist within the art world, will also be open.
Indoni Arts House joins the programme as a creative hub dedicated to exhibitions that honour South Africa’s history and cultural memory. Also participating are Avalon Art, IDG Studios, and Studio 79, the creative home of long-time artist Martin Wenkidu.
Dining options include Chiesa di Pazzo Lupi, a hybrid space that blends café culture, performance, co-working, and creative community energy. Nearby, the Melville Artisanal Market will offer artisinal food, fresh juices, crafts, plants and locally made jewellery.
Die Pienk Kerk, the bright-pink restored church turned restaurant, café, and mini gallery, adds its own sense of whimsy while honouring local heritage.
Also in the line-up are Melville Mansions, a stylish residential building overlooking 7th Street; Melville Mudroom, a pottery studio run by two sisters who specialise in workshops and small-batch ceramics; and Snaps on Seventh, a media platform that documents and celebrates Melville’s creative stories.
Tours of Art, Culture and Local Flavour
The Meville Art Mile is close to 2 kms and includes 7th street, 27 Boxes, 4th Avenue, and more. The collective invites visitors to “take a wander, meet the artists, sip something local, discover little corners you’ve never noticed, and feel the neighbourhood come alive. It’s slow, it’s social, it’s full of surprises, and it’s everything we love about Melville.”
The idea of the Mile was initiated by Aubrey Moloto of Snaps on Seventh, who connected the dots. As a content creator representing Melville, he brought the organisations together. He will also host a curated tour, blending a walking route with tuk-tuk rides for longer stretches. “The idea is to make Joburg walkable again, to make Melville walkable again,” says Moloto.
To ensure visitor safety, the Melville Art Mile is supported by local security, providing a seamless walking experience.
There are three tour options: a premium guided tour, a self-guided route with tuk-tuks, or a free walk-in experience at one’s own pace.
From open galleries and studios to workshops and live music, Melville’s addition to Johannesburg’s First Thursdays culture celebrates the suburb’s creativity and spirit. The second edition takes place on February 8th.
