Arts on Main

Johannesburg


Occupying a former warehouse complex, the Arts on Main development is one of the key catalysts of the Maboneng precinct. The once-dilapidated building has been transformed into a creative haven with artists' studios, galleries, various retail outlets and restaurants.

It's home to the incredibly popular Market on Main as well as the Centre For The Less Good Idea conceptual gallery, the good souvenir shop Iwasshot in Jo'burg and the pleasant courtyard cafe Canteen.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Johannesburg attractions

1. Centre For The Less Good Idea

0.02 MILES

Founded by renowned South African artist William Kentridge, the centre is an incubator and platform for experimental, collaborative and cross-disciplinary…

2. The Cosmopolitan

0.19 MILES

Standing out against the more modern warehouse conversions in Maboneng is this former pub dating from 1902. The handsome whitewashed building now hosts a…

3. Hazard

0.19 MILES

Occupying a series of small whitewashed rooms on the upper floor of the building, Hazard is a contemporary gallery exhibiting emerging pan-African arts as…

4. Madiba Mural

0.22 MILES

This 10-storey-tall mural by Capetonian street artist Freddy Sam (aka Ricky Lee Gordon) is inspired by the famous photo taken by Robert Gosani of Madiba…

5. Spaza Art Gallery

0.66 MILES

The home, sculpture garden and small 'matchbox' gallery of artist Andrew Lindsay is extraordinary. The garden is dominated by a mobile phone signal tower…

6. Top of Africa

0.68 MILES

The Carlton Centre (223m) has been Africa's tallest building since 1973. The basement shelters a buzzing shopping mall. For awesome city vistas, head to…

7. Workhorse Bronze Foundry

0.77 MILES

The Workhorse Bronze Foundry, based in a former factory in the gritty centre of downtown Jo'burg, is where many of South Africa's top sculptors create…

8. Johannesburg Art Gallery

0.84 MILES

Fenced off from the southern end of sketchy Joubert Park is this elegant Lutyens-designed gallery dating from 1915. The JAG has one of the largest art…