18CENTRAL CORRIDORTHE
18CENTRAL CORRIDORTHE CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORInner-city rejuvenation through heritage and the arts.The project to restore the precinct was funded by the GautengProvincial Government, the City of Johannesburg and the Departmentof Justice and Constitutional Development with the support of severalphilanthropic organisations. ConHill is a GGDA subsidiary.With the promotion of the creative arts at the core of its mission,ConHill has four major components:• ConHill Education Project• ConHill Heritage Project• ConHill Tourism Project• ConHill Precinct Development ProjectINFRASTRUCTUREThe town establishment process for ConHill Extension 2 and 3 is currentlyunderway. There are plans to establish a new visitor centrethat will serve as the gateway to provincial tourism. The project involvesconstructing a multi-storey building atop an existing basementparking facility, but delays have been experienced and a contractor’scontract has been terminated and a new tender has been issued.Johannesburg is Africa’s financial and technological nerve centreand pre-eminent hub for innovation, research and development. TheCentral Development Corridor intends to build on that while sparkingrevitalisation of various nodes within the city.The pipeline of concrete projects includes major investments inRosebank, Sandton, Midrand and Fourways as well as:• The revitalisation of the Joburg Inner City• Mega projects in the south from Soweto to Orange Farm• Revitalisation of townshipsTogether with the private sector, more than R200-billion of privateinvestments in Johannesburg is being unlocked.Constitution Hill (ConHill), a mixed-use heritage precinct, activelyengages with its surroundings and contributes to the GreaterJohannesburg Region and the regeneration of Johannesburg’s innercity. ConHill promotes civic growth by offering historical insights andbringing the values of the Constitution to life within the precinct.A living museum within central Johannesburg that tells the story ofSouth Africa’s journey to democracy, ConHill is the site of a formerprison and military fort that bears testament to South Africa’s turbulentpast and is home to the country’s Constitutional Court, which endorsesthe rights of all citizens. By sharing this rich history, ConHill inspires andeducates the public on the importance of these values. Its mission istranslated through a variety of initiatives and programmes, includingexhibitions, public lectures, educational outreach and cultural events.SKILLS AND INCUBATIONA group of 10 participants were incubated in the Tourism Centre ofExcellence. The interventions included comprehensive training in keybusiness skills such as marketing, sales and customer service.By capacitating SMMEs in the tourism sector, ConHill contributes tothe growth and development of small and medium-sized businessesin the tourism sector, which in turn helps to drive economic growthand job creation in the local community. Tour operators account for33% of visitors to Constitution Hill.Support to tourism SMMEs was further extended through theIAMJOBURG initiative, sparking a cultural renaissance, fostering a senseof pride and ownership among the tourism SMMEs while captivatingthe imagination of visitors from around the world. The programmechallenged perceptions and inspired dialogue on issues ranging fromurban development to the role of tourism in development.IAMJOBURG, which includes a digital platform, profiles uniquetourism SMMEs in Johannesburg which includes walking andcycling tours of Joburg’s iconic neighbourhoods to unique culinaryand cultural experiences. IAMJOBURG positions Constitution Hillas a gateway to the heart of South Africa’s historical narrative,symbolising resilience, justice and transformation.PROGRAMMES AND EVENTSThe Creative Uprising is ConHill’s ongoing programme designed to
19develop and elevate creative talent within the creativeand cultural industries. The target market is the creativeentrepreneurial and small business sector, both formaland informal.In FY 2023/24 a total of 1 146 creatives benefitted fromthe Creative Uprising Programme, exceeding the annualtarget by 146. Creatives gained market access opportunities by settingup pop-up stalls for books, clothing and jewellery and food and drinks.Through these programmes the museum contributed towards local tourismattractions, provided networking opportunities and extended the use ofmuseum collections to enhance the work of the creatives.The launch of the Creative Uprising Hub in December 2023 transformedan art deco building into a vibrant creative node featuring 62 studios,maker spaces and gallery spaces where these businesses operated from.This was further supported by six cultural and creative industry supportorganisations including Concert SA, Craft and Design Institute and the SouthAfrican Creative Industries Incubator. The Hub further supported microcreativeenterprises with physical amenities like Wi-Fi, low-cost studio spaceand networking opportunities.The project has created a network of creatives in the fashion design,visual arts, graphic design, film and music, jewellery making, photographyand print art, footwear, painting, architecture and interior design spaces.A series of exhibitions which included the hosting of the Freedom Charterexhibition was held to celebrate three decades of freedom since theoverthrow of apartheid. The exhibition’s most profound impacts were ingiving voices to those who historically have been marginalised, amplifyingthe stories of ordinary South Africans who contributed to the strugglefor freedom. The exhibition celebrates the diversity of experiences andperspectives that shaped the nation’s history and was featured in theHuman Rights Festival.Events such as the Basha Uhuru and Human Rights Festivals successfullyengage with the public while giving a creative platform for artists andartisans to showcase their talents and wares.CONTACT DETAILSEmail: info@conhill.org.zaWebsite: www.constitutionhill.org.za
