Melville launches its Art Mile on 4 December, a new monthly walk linking galleries, studios and markets in a community-led cultural revival.
Melville’s creative community is launching a new monthly Art Mile on 4 December. The event turns the area into a walkable evening route through galleries, studios, markets, and spaces run by independent artists and makers. It is Melville’s first coordinated First Thursday-style event and the pilot is designed to test how the neighborhood can revive its cultural identity.
The route has been curated by Jozi My Jozi JoziWalks Champion Aubrey Moloto. It links eight creative stops that stretch from Chatou Road on the Richmond border to 7th Street, 4th Avenue and Main Road.
Visitors can expect open studios, talks, live music, artisan markets, hands-on workshops and small creative spaces that reflect the everyday energy of Melville. TukTuks will move visitors along the route while local organisations provide safety and maintenance.
In recent years Melville’s creative activity has been present but scattered. Many artists have continued working from small studios, homes, converted garages, and spaces inside 27 Boxes. The Art Mile brings these pockets together in a single flow. Organisers say the idea is to make Melville feel discoverable again.
“Melville has always been Johannesburg’s creative soul,” says Martin Wenkidu of Studio 79.
“The energy was here, it was just fragmented. The Art Mile brings us together as galleries, markets, studios and artists so that we can create something bigger than what any of us can do alone.” – Martin Wenkidu of Studio 79
The event is fully community-led. Venues such as Melville Mudroom, chiesa di PAZZO LUPi, Melville Artisanal Market, Avalon Art, Studio 79, Melville Mansions and several galleries inside 27 Boxes are collaborating through shared resources and pooled budgets. The intention is to create a sustainable model that supports artists and small businesses while rebuilding Melville’s cultural footprint.
“We are building on Melville’s legacy while creating something fresh and sustainable for the future,” says Nkululeko Mabe of Resource Gallery.
“This is about economic opportunity for artists and galleries. It is not nostalgia. It is a new chapter.” – Nkululeko Mabe of Resource Gallery.
The December pilot precedes an official launch in February 2026. Organisers hope the Art Mile will become a monthly fixture in Johannesburg’s cultural calendar, taking inspiration from Cape Town’s First Thursdays while adding a distinctly Melville character. The project includes tiered ticket options, from a guided tour to a free walk-in model that keeps the event accessible.
“What makes this special is the authenticity,” says Hildegard van Heerden of Avalon Art.
“We are not manufacturing culture. We are amplifying what already exists here. Melville has incredible artists and passionate makers. This event simply opens the doors.” – Hildegard van Heerden of Avalon Art
Long-term plans include the formation of the Melville Art Association, new residency programmes, education workshops and expanded routes that position Melville as a destination for Johannesburg residents and visitors.
“The December event is our proof of concept. February is when we show the city what Melville has always been, the home of Joburg’s creative heartland,” Moloto says.
